News & Events in Belarus

Belarus president in favor of balanced reformation of Tax Code

MINSK, 27 March (BelTA) – Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko is in favor of a balanced reformation of the Tax Code. The head of state made the statement at the meeting with Alexander Turchin, Chairman of the Business Promotion Council, Head of the Council of Ministers’ Apparatus, on 27 March, BelTA informs.

“There should not be any burdens in our system. It is also important for the state. Secondly, and it is absolutely right, they sometimes say that we need the convenient and understandable Tax Code. It is inadmissible to ruin the balance with reforms. Our tax system should not be turned into an excessive burden for business. On the other hand, it is even more dangerous to weaken the state, to affect such major aspects as taxes and money,” the president said.

Alexander Lukashenko also asked about the processes going on in business and the operation of the renewed council. “In this regard, I would like to know when we will hold a session of this council at the level of the president. When you will be ready to hold the session in a way different from the previous meeting where the participants talked about problems at their enterprises and sometimes asked for something. I would like to know the state of affairs in general and what the business environment needs,” the head of state said.

After the meeting wit the president Alexander Turchin told reporters that the work on the revised Tax Code is underway. “The Finance Ministry has set a working group with about 60 members. It includes representatives of the Business Promotion Council and the business community. Sessions of the working group are held 2-3 times a week. Besides, the government has set up a working group of a higher level led by the first deputy prime minister to address the issues which could not be solved by the working group at the Finance Ministry,” he said.

“The president instructed to submit the revised version of the Tax Code by 1 September 2018. The ideology should be as follows: to simplify as tax administration as much as possible. But the level of tax collection and the level of income should at least remain the same,” Alexander Turchin added.

BelTA reported earlier that in October 2017 the Belarusian president signed Decree No. 370 to enhance the role of the Business Promotion Council and give additional powers to it.

The council is in charge of considering and harmonizing legal acts regulating business activities. The council can also submit business improvement proposals to the Economy Ministry and the government directly. These proposals are mandatory for consideration.

Besides, members of the council can take part in the work of consultative councils for entrepreneurship development under the aegis of public administration bodies, other organizations subordinate to the government, and local authorities. As practice shows, these councils help work out efficient business solutions.

The decree has also renewed the composition of the council. It included representatives of small and large businesses.

print version

make home page

add to bookmarks