DUSHANBE, January 27, 2012, Asia-Plus — Internet providers in Tajikistan are continuing to stand up their rights. Thus, Tajik national fixed-line telecommunications operator, Tajiktelecom, which also provides Internet services, has refused to pay the excise tax on Internet services.
Boymurod Mirzoyorov, the deputy chairman of the Tajiktelecom Board of Directors, told a news conference in Dushanbe on Thursday that the company has not paid and is not going to pay the 3-prcent excise tax on Internet services.
“The excise tax is usually imposed on goods or services that are injurious to human health,” said Mirzoyorov. “Meanwhile, Tajiktelecom provides to its users not mobile but wired Internet, which is not harmful to human health.”
We will recall that Tajikistan has imposed the 3 percent excise tax on Internet-providers’ services. Under the instruction of the Tax Committee under the Government of Tajikistan, Internet providers have to pay the 3-percent excise tax starting from January 1, 2011.
Some local experts consider that imposition of excise tax on Internet providers” services will lead to increase in the Internet service prices.
The Tax Committee officials, however, note that Internet is one of subtypes of mobile communications. According to them, imposition of the excise tax on cellular communications services did not affect the number of subscribers to the mobile phone operators.
Tajikistan imposed the 3 percent excise tax on mobile phone services on January 1, 2011. Following imposition of excise tax on cellular communications services, mobile phone operators in Tajikistan raised fees for their services by 3 percent starting on February 1, 2011.
Ms. Parvina Ibodova, the chairperson of the Association of Internet-Providers of Tajikistan, says more than 130 providers have been granted license for providing Internet service, but not more than ten Internet –providers now function in Tajikistan.
The Association of Internet-Providers of Tajikistan now groups Babilon-T, Saturn-Online, Intercom, Eastera and the Tarena Association.
