Fixed tax for entrepreneurs to be raised by just Euro 10

Only two commodities – shoes and publications – will be subjected to the fixed tax increase. The European Radio for Belarus has learned that the Minsk City Hall has no plans to equate taxation for sole entrepreneurs and legal entities.

For several days, small-size entrepreneurs have been discussing the expected twofold increase of the fixed tax. But the Minsk Municipal Revenue Authorities assured the European Radio for Belarus that the tax would be increased only by Euro 10. “We have the highest taxes anyway”, says Aliaksandr Subotka, the deputy chief of the revenue inspectorate.

“Yes. We are planning to increase, but only as regards shoes and publications”, he said.

According to Aliaksandr Kalionouski who is charge of entrepreneurship at the Minsk City Hall, there was an attempt to raise the tax as far back as in December.

“There was such an attempt during the previous session which took place before the New Year. I did not endorse this proposal, so it was removed from that session’s agenda”.

Kalinouski says that the Minsk City Hall has not received any proposals yet regarding the increase of the tax rate.

“Such decisions are made by the city council’s sessions. The next session is scheduled for March 12. I am telling you officially that I have no information about the plans to raise the tax”.

Aliaksandr Patupa, the former chairman of the Belarusian Union of Entrepreneurs, believes that if the tax rates are going to be raised, this measure target the sole entrepreneurs who registered their hired vendors as individual entrepreneurs.

“Basically, this is aimed against those entrepreneurs who created the partnerships of sole entrepreneurs. It means they registered their hired vendors as small-size entrepreneurs. The additional taxes will primarily target this category”, Patupa said.