Belarus Television accuses US Embassy of tax evasion
The Channel One's evening news magazine Panarama yesterday announced that the Belarusian citizens employed by the US Embassy in Minsk do not reveal their income and evade taxes.
According to a channel's journalist, the Belarusian Ministry of Taxes and Refenues "filed numerous requests through the foreign ministry to the US embassy in Minsk in order to obtain information about the income of the embassy local staff, yet with no avail".
The Belarusian embassy in Washington also sent notes to the US State Department, seeking the same information. "The US Embassy keeps hiding the real income of the Belarusian employees," the TV report's author claimed.
The amount mentioned in the income declarations by the embassy's local staff is routinely reduced from approximately $2000 down to several hundred dollars, Belarus Television suggests. The allegation was backed by a reference to a certain Siarhey who worked with the embassy in late 1990s and was allegedly paid $1200.
Ala Sundukova, the chief of international department at the Ministry of Taxes and Revenues, has confirmed that they have a problem with the US embassy.
According to Sundukova, the Belrusians employed by the US embassy voluntarily pay their taxes and declare their income. The problem is that the Belarusian revenue authorities have no information about the size of their salaries and a full list of local employees, she said.
According to a channel's journalist, the Belarusian Ministry of Taxes and Refenues "filed numerous requests through the foreign ministry to the US embassy in Minsk in order to obtain information about the income of the embassy local staff, yet with no avail".
The Belarusian embassy in Washington also sent notes to the US State Department, seeking the same information. "The US Embassy keeps hiding the real income of the Belarusian employees," the TV report's author claimed.
The amount mentioned in the income declarations by the embassy's local staff is routinely reduced from approximately $2000 down to several hundred dollars, Belarus Television suggests. The allegation was backed by a reference to a certain Siarhey who worked with the embassy in late 1990s and was allegedly paid $1200.
Ala Sundukova, the chief of international department at the Ministry of Taxes and Revenues, has confirmed that they have a problem with the US embassy.
According to Sundukova, the Belrusians employed by the US embassy voluntarily pay their taxes and declare their income. The problem is that the Belarusian revenue authorities have no information about the size of their salaries and a full list of local employees, she said.
