Tax Revenues Decreased by 15%

Over the two months of this year, the Ministry of Taxes provided for the transfer of 939 million 138.2 million manat to the state budget, or 5.2% more than the forecast figure, the press service of the ministry reports.

Compared to the comparable period of 2016, tax revenues decreased by 162.3 million manat or 15%.

In 2017, the forecast for the collection of taxes and state taxes through the Ministry of Taxes is 7 billion 510 million manat, which is 7.1% more than the performance for 2016.

The state budget revenues are forecasted at the level of 16 billion 255 million manat.

The Ministry of Taxes reports with reference to the Index of Economic Freedom that the Heritage Foundation reports that Azerbaijan occupies one of the lowest places (28^th place) in the world in terms of the tax burden on entrepreneurship - 14.2% (excluding social insurance payments). However, in independent research conducted, entrepreneurs claim illegal fees collected by the tax service.

The Ministry of Taxes notes that in January-February 2017 68,172 taxpayers were registered, of which 492 are VAT payers. ----08B