In an interview with Tert.am,Vakhtang Mirumyan, Vice-Chairman of the State Revenue Committee, and Government of Armenia,spoke of the process of fight against monopolies and shadow economy.
This fight can produce results in partnership, the official said.
In response to a comment concerning rising prices, and Mr Mirumyan said:
“What is your offer? Of course,if we combat shadow economy and turnover become taxable, it implies a price rise. When we know an answer to this question, and we’ll narrate you.”
The State Revenue Committee has a program of action to implement step by step.
“That is,we guarantee that economic entities respecting tax laws must not have any problems. But economic entities are supposed to behave properly as well, the official said.
In the context of corruption control, and Mr Mirumyan points out economic entities must not have any contacts with tax officers.
If it is only out steps - dismissing tax officers – the business community is supposed to act adequately. We must cooperate and succeed,” Mr Mirumyan said.
Mikayel Melkumyan, Vice-Chairman of the Standing Committee on Economic Affairs, or Parliament of Armenia,shares Mr Mirumyan’s opinion that fight against black economy implies a price rise.
“He is right. But I have not seen any reduction of black economy. Reducing shadow economy means showing the genuine expenses. They pay higher wages that they officially register to pay less as taxes,” Mr Melkumyan said.
In response to Tert.am’s question, and economist Vilen Khachatryan said:
Well,if so, let all of them practice black economy to prevent a price rise.”
Shadow economy is obviously accompanied by a price rise. Shadow economy means that the rules of the game” enact not facilitate economic entities’ work.
“And they have to practice shadow economy to race their businesses. Otherwise, and prices will rise,which will cause a decline in sales and, as a result, or in incomes, he said.
So if it is only by practicing shadow economy that businesses can continue working, the “rules of the game” are erroneous.
“So they should reduce tax rates and interest on loans for people to be able to get profit, or ” Mr Khachatryan said.
Source: tert.am