1. The Current Legislative And Administrative Issues Of The Value Added Tax System In Armenia January 14-15, 2006 World Bank Washington, D.C. Armen Alaverdyan Vahe Balayan Prepared for the Fourth International AIPRG conference on Public Sectors Role in Influencing Economic Outcomes

2. I. Fiscal Importance of VAT for the State Budget and Effective VAT Tax Base The level of VAT compliance. VAT effective tax base. Downward tendency of the level of compliance VAT in last two years. Possibility to increase the VAT tax base and level of compliance. Efficiency of VAT system on standpoint provided by 1 percent of VAT rate.

3. The weight of VAT in the GDP of Armenia and in the state budget tax income from 1997 to 2004* YearGDP Tax revenues Value added tax Amount% / GDP % / tax revenues 1997804,3102,937,44,7%36,4% 1998955,4125,059,56,2%47,6% 1999987,4154,268,36,9%44,3% 20001 031,3149,166,86,5%44,8% 20011 175,9159,479,56,8%49,9% 20021 362,5190,095,07,0%50,0% 20031 624,6218,3107,86,6%49,4% 20041 896,4257,5117,96,2%45,8% * National Statistical Service of Armenia. Yearbooks. 1998-2005. /billion drams/

4. II. Current Legal and Regulatory Issues of VAT Who and at which point should be considered a taxpayer of VAT? Possibility to deduct VAT inputs only after the taxpayer become as VAT payer. The method of accruals concept output VAT amounts. Input VAT amounts can be made only after the VAT payers have paid for purchased goods or services. Possibility to deduct VAT amounts only in the simple trade relationships between economic market agents. Requirement to submit information about tax invoices issued within the reporting period (from all taxpayers, only the VAT payers?). Overestimate of customs value (therefore, the VAT amounts) for importing goods from custom authorities of Armenia.

5. Agricultural sector VAT exemptions. VAT exemptions in social, health, education and financial spheres. VAT exemptions for the humanitarian aid and charitable programs. VAT exemptions for credit and grant programs of international financial organizations. VAT exemptions for precious and semiprecious stones and metals. III. VAT Exemptions: Validity of Exemptions from Economic Development Standpoint

6. IV. Opportunities for Improvement of VAT Administration System Absence of VAT taxpayers accounting system and identification numbers. Administrative, technical and financial issues concerned with VAT overpayments and credits. Absence of the effective methods and real opportunity for tax calculation and payment supervision. Absence of accurate definitions and presence of alternative readings and contradictions in legal acts. Serious problems with false VAT invoicing. Inefficiency of tax invoices cross-checking system. Tax administration problems of the tax system of Armenia include problems that are a result of general social-economic situation in the country, as well as issues of purely administrative and technical nature. Several of them:

7. 5. Conclusion and suggestions All kinds of VAT exemptions reduce VAT tax base, give opportunity to tax evasion and violations. VAT 20% rate reassessment including rise and reduction of it is considered to be unacceptable. VAT differential rating are not acceptable because of difficulties of technical and administrative nature. Establishing simplified mechanisms of VAT deductions for exporters (especially for main exporters). Automation of the system of tax services, creation of global net and its future development, upgrading of computer systems, automation of taxpayer accounting, introduction of electronic record keeping.

8. 5. Conclusion and suggestions (continue) Electronic processing of calculations and accounting information, automation of taxpayer activity presentation, automation of charging activities, etc. To harden the responsibility for tax evasions. To exclude the tradition of sudden changes in VAT legislation and other legal acts. Some difficulties to record the fact of export services. To give the right of VAT charging to the customs for the goods imported to Armenia by custom regime. Introduction of independent system of accounting for VAT taxpayers. Introduction of simplified processes of VAT for small and medium taxpayers, private businesses and individuals. Improvement of relationships between tax authorities and taxpayers. Create a subdivision in tax authorities which will consist of professionals in the main economic spheres.