Armenia’s NA adopts bill on making changes in Tax legislation, returning VAT debt to enterprises

The Armenian National Assembly adopted today the bill on making amendments in the Tax legislation. The bill was backed by 92 lawmakers both from ruling party and the opposition.

With the proposed amendments the government plans to return 56 billion 443 million AMD expired VAT debt to 2,835 entrepreneurs of which 183 are big ones. While introducing the bill the government grounded it with the necessity to inject activeness into the economy.

The opposition Bright Armenia faction was demanding to unveil the names of the big companies to understand who the budget means will be allocated to.

Lawmaker Mane Tandilyan, citing the information she has, said one of the companies belongs to the family of the brother of the third president.

The chairman of the State Revenue Committee though did not unveil the information citing the law on Banking secrecy.

Prosperous Armenia faction lawmaker Mikayel Melkumyan said their faction backs the bill, sharing the voiced concerns.

“The big companies who will get the debt will be under the focus of our faction,” she said, adding that the faction will also demand the data of audit by the SRC,” the lawmaker said.

Bright Armenia faction head Edmon Marukyan though claimed that the parliament should know who the money will be given.

“We will invite the SCR chairman to get the list of enterprises,” Marukyan stressed.

Lawmaker from My Step faction Yeghishe Soghomonyan stated that they share the concerns voiced by Mane Tandilyan and added that the 5 and more million AMD will be returned with clear procedure, after detailed studies. The lawmaker said if violations are registered the sum will not be transferred.