Azerbaijan's tax minister: Country's economic development foster successful tax system reforms

The dynamic development of Azerbaijan's economy in 2009 encouraged successful reforms in the tax system and a flexible tax policy, Azerbaijani Taxes Minister Fazil Mammadov said at the board meeting devoted to outcomes of the ministry's activities in 2009 and talks for 2010.

According to him, ministry assigned 4.114 billion manat to the state budget in 2009.

The figure comprises 12 percent of GDP and 39.8 percent of total revenues.

The budget received 2.327 billion manat from the non-oil sector. This figure exceeds the index of 2008 by 70.2 million manat.

He said taxpayers welcomed application of IT technologies in tax administration.

Thus, the number of VAT payers who are logged into the e-exchange of documents with the ministry amounted to 99.4 percent, and other types of payers of taxes - 87.1 percent.

In 2009, the ministry signed appropriate documents with Iran, Kuwait and Greece to promote coverage of agreements to eliminate double taxation.

Agreements signed with the Netherlands and Luxembourg entered the force.

The agreements signed with Bulgaria, Estonia, Korea, Hungary, Qatar and Tajikistan in 2008 was launched.

The ministry conducted reciprocal visits with the tax administrations of Australia, the Netherlands, Hungary, Estonia, Denmark, New Zealand and Sweden to receive best practices in the field of taxation and increase cooperation with the tax authorities of other countries.

/Trend Capital/