MINSK, 5 February (BelTA) – The tax system in Belarus will stay stable in 2016, BelTA learned from Belarusian Tax and Duties Minister Sergei Nalivaiko on 5 February.
The Tax and Duties Minister said that in 2015 revenues controlled by tax agencies contributed over 70% of the state budget's revenues. “It is remarkable that the share of voluntary payments has been rising in the last few years. The trend reflects the strategy currently followed by tax agencies: we don't want to fine people, we want them to pay voluntarily. At the same time dishonest taxpayers are detected using information systems, specialized software that facilitates prosecution,” noted Sergei Nalivaiko.
The official mentioned the introduction of a computerized invoice system and the enforcement of digital invoices for all the VAT payers as from 1 July as one of the key tasks the Tax and Duties Ministry has set out to accomplish in 2016. “On the one hand, it will simplify administration. Inbuilt virtual tips for taxpayers will make it easier among other things. On the other hand, control in this area will become more effective. In 2015 VAT revenues accounted for nearly 25% of the consolidated budget's revenues,” he explained.
In 2015 Belarusian tax agencies collected Br193.2 trillion in revenues of the consolidated budget, with Br86.7 trillion going to the central state budget and Br106.5 trillion going to municipal budgets. The execution of the consolidated budget reached 100.9%. Revenues above the targeted figure stood at Br1.7 trillion.
Revenues from corporations accounted for the bulk of the revenues of the consolidated budget — Br182.2 trillion (94.3%), including Br96.4 trillion paid by public sector organizations.
As of 1 January 2016 the digital declaration system was used by 294,435 economic operators, 31.3% up (70,127 economic operators up) from 1 January 2015. The number includes 115,148 corporations and 179,287 self-employed businessmen. The share of taxpayers, who use the digital declaration system, makes up 77.9% of the total number of those registered by tax agencies.
Speaking about plans for 2016, Sergei Nalivaiko remarked that the Finance Ministry takes care of setting revenue targets. “For the last few years Belarusian tax agencies have been able to reach and exceed these figures,” he said.
“On the whole, the taxation system has been able to handle tasks and challenges for many years. It will continue doing so,” stated the Belarusian Tax and Duties Minister.
