Finance Minister, Gagik Khachatryan, who a few months ago and quite a long time took the office of the Head of State Revenues Committee (SRC), and in fact, it was his “holy task” to fight against the shadow economy and collect taxes, now is announcing that Armenia’s shadow economy is 20-40 percent. Recall that on July 25, to the question of the journalist on how much is the shadow economy in Armenia, the Minister had said that it was 20-40%. With this statement, we can say that the minister admits that he has failed in his past position. “Gagik Khachatryan has been the Head of the State Revenue Committee for many years and now when he admits that Armenia’s shadow economy is up to 40%, then he should write down a resignation after making this statement,” such opinion was expressed by economic commentator for “Haykakan Zhamanak” daily, Hayk Gevorgyan.
To our question of what prevented Gagik Khachatryan to fight against the shadow economy being the Head of SRC, whether the factor of the prime minister has a great importance as since the day that Hovik Abrahamyan took over the position of prime minister, he promised to reduce the shadow economy, Hayk Gevorgyan said, “These are populist statements. Waves for combating the shadow economy in Armenia has always been in the beginning tenure of all prime ministers. Now they can be “in the mood” and collect so many taxes from the small businesses to let them dry up, but this will not last long.” Finance Minister also assured that they would be tough in the fight against the shadow especially with the big businesses. The minister said that in the first decade of July, the electronic tax invoices is increased by 101 thousand, it is a turnover of more than 25 billion drams. With this regard, Hayk Gevorgyan said that if we rely on the facts brought up by the Minister of Finance, it means that additional amount of 450 billion drams should be collected in the state budget by the end of the year, in other words, until the end of the year, in the first 10-days of each month, 25 billion drams should be collected.
And actually, from whom they collect these extra amounts: from the major businesses or small and medium, will show up, according to the analyst, from published tax reports. “There is such a dynamics in Armenia. The smaller is the taxpayer, the bigger are his paid taxes by percentage, year after year, and the bigger is the taxpayer, the less it grows.” Gagik Khachatryan also proudly noted that recently they have made such a legislative amendment for the benefit of SMEs, which will contribute to the development of the economy. “If the legislative initiatives are like a very seriously sick who needs oxygen, and the oxygen is closed up to the end, and later, they release it by 5% and say, breathe a little not to die. And then they say, oh, look, what a good thing we have done,” said Hayk Gevorgyan.
Nelly BABAYAN
