Tajik authorities will raise duty and fine rates next year after all, though some officials assured last month that the rates of duties and fines will not be raised in 2020.
Recall, an official source within one of the economic cluster ministries told Asia-Plus on November 22 that the draft law on the national budget for 2020 does not provide for raising tax and fine rates in the next year. “As in the passing year, the rate of the calculation index will remain the same in 2020 – 55.00 somoni,” the source said.
During the discussion of the draft law on the national budget for 2020 in the Majlisi Namoyandagon on November 22, neither parliamentarians nor members of the government talked about the possible rise in the rate of the calculation index in 2020.
Meanwhile, the law on the national budget for 2020, which was signed by the president in late November, notes that the rate of the calculation index will be raised beginning on January 1, 2020 and it will amount to 58.00 somoni.
The calculation index replaced the notion of “minimum wage” on July 1, 2008 and it uses to determine taxes, fines, duties and other obligatory payments as well as social benefits and allowances.
The calculation index is set annually taking into consideration the inflation rate.
This year, fine and duty rates have risen 10 percent due to increase in the rate of the calculation index from 50 to 55 percent.
On January 1, 2015, the calculation index rate was set at 40 somoni, on January 1, 2017 – at 50 somoni, and on January 2, 2019, it was set at 55 somoni.