Taxpayers paying billions
State Revenue Committee of Armenia has published the list of largest taxpayers of the first quarter 2017. 1000 largest taxpayers of the Republic altogether have paid taxes and fees amounting around AMD 175 billion in the first quarter of ongoing year.
In 2016 1000 largest taxpayers have paid taxes comprising AMD 156.5 billion. Thus, the largest taxpayers have increased taxes by AMD 18.5 billion or 10.5%. In 2017 54.2% (AMD 94.8 billion) of taxpayers’ payments are indirect taxes—VAT, excise tax. Volume of direct taxes comprises AMD 57.8 billion, fixed payments—AMD 21.9 billion, other taxes and payments—AMD 407.8 billion.
We have singled out supergiant companies, which in the first quarter of ongoing year have paid taxes amounting AMD 1 billion and more. Number of such companies is 25. These companies altogether have paid taxes and paymnets comprising around AMD 72 billion in the first quarter of 2017. Leader of largest taxpayers is “Gazprom-Armenia”—taxes amounting AMD 16.8 billion. “Grand Tobacco” is among the champions of the list, which compared with the first quarter of the previous year increased taxes paid to the state budget by more than AMD 2.5 billion or 87%, reaching taxes to AMD 5.5 billion.
Note, volumes of cigarette production and export have sharply grown recently and growth of taxes in the first quarter edifies that tendency will be maintained this year as well. Another cigarette producing company belonging to the Vardanyan family—“International Masis Tabak” is also in the top 10 with taxes comprising AMD 2.3 billion. “Grand Candy” is also in the list—the company has paid taxes comprising AMD 1.2 billion and is the 19th in the list.
Let’s return to leaders of the list. Former largest taxpayer Zangezur Copper and Molybdenum Combine CJSC, which receded last year, and this year has partially recovered its positions and is the 3rd with taxes amounting AMD 4.7 billion. Taxes of the company have increased 2.3 times or by AMD 2.7 billion. From mining companies impressive growth was recorded by Kapan Mine Enrichment Plant. The company paid taxes and payments comprising more than AMD 3 billion compared with previous year’s AMD 569 million and is the 7th in the list.
“Teghut” has increased taxes by its half reaching AMD 2.1 billion (12th place). Reduction of paid taxes was recorded only by “GeoProMinig Gold”—it paid AMD 1 billion 785 million taxes, less by 4.5% from the first quarter of the previous year, holding 15th place in the list.
“Alex Holding” is the 4th in the list and “Alex Grig” withdrew to the bottom of the list. Both companies belong to NA MP Samvel Aleksanyan.
His businesses (firstly Yerevan City supermarkets) currently appear under “Alex Holding”, which in the first quarter of ongoing year paid taxes and payments amounting around AMD 5.5 billion. Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA) is the 5th with taxes, comprising AMD 4.1 billion.
Taxes paid by ENA almost remained unchanged.
CPS company, which imports gasoline and diesel fuel, increased taxes by 50% and reached to around AMD 3.5 billion. Armenian Power Plant (APP) reduced its taxes by 14.8% and is the 8th with taxes comprising AMD 2.57 billion.
“Philip Morris” is the 9th—AMD 2.35 billion. This time mobile phone operators aren’t involved in the list of largest taxpayers.
In particular, Armentel paid taxes amounting AMD 3.4 billion in the first quarter of last year and was the 5th. This year it has paid taxes comprising AMD 2.2 billion and withdrew to the 11th place.
“K-Telecom” has also receded by paying taxes amounting AMD 1.83 billion, less by 2.5% compared with the same period of the previous year. Generally income from telecommunication, in particular, mobile connection records a stabile decline mostly as a result of programs functioning through the internet connection (Viber, Whatsapp and etc.).
Ucom is beyond this regularity, which has doubled the taxes and reached to almost AMD 1.2 billion.
By Babken Tunyan
