Tajik government’s decree sees higher prices of certain goods, including alcohol drinks and cigarettes. Issued on June 9, the government’s decree approves new excise tax rates for some goods manufactured inside the country and imported from abroad.
The decree notes that excise tax rates for these goods that had been in effect in the country since February 15, 2014 have become invalid.
Excise tax rates for practically all excisable goods have been raised with the exception of petroleum products, caoutchouc, rubber and rubber products, pearls, precious and semiprecious stones, coins, costume jewelry, etc.
Thus, the excise tax rate for beer has risen from €0.10 to €0.35 per liter, for wine – from €0.25 to €0.85 per liter, for ethyl alcohol – form €2.50 to €4.10 per liter.
The excise tax rate for cigars has been raised from €0.80 to €8.50 per 1,000 pieces and for cigarettes – from €1.00 to €9.80 per 1,000 pieces.
The excise tax rate for water, including natural or artificial mineral water, sparkling water, without added sugar or other sweeteners or flavorings, has risen from €0.02 to €0.06 per liter.
The excise tax rate for water containing sugar or other flavorings has been raised from €0.03 to €0.09 per liter.
In accordance with the decree, the new excise tax rates came in effect on July 1, 2018.
Recall, the Government of Tajikistan offered stage-by-stage increase in an excise tax on tobacco products last year. The government worked out a draft regulation on raising the excise tax on the tobacco products and it was discussed at a meeting with representatives of business community on October 11, 2017.
Representatives of government bodies, in particular, noted that Tajikistan has the lowest excise tax on tobacco products in Central Asia – €1.00 on 1,000 pieces.
In Kyrgyzstan, for example, the excise tax on tobacco products is 7.00 euros on 1,000 pieces.
In this regard, the government decided to equate the excise tax rate for tobacco products with rates set by neighboring countries.
The government offered stage-by-stage increase in the excise tax on cigars, cigars need to be cut on both ends, cigarillos and cigarettes of tobacco or tobacco substitute to €2.40 on 1,000 pieces in 2018, to €4.00 in 2019 and €5.60 in 2020.
The excise tax on tobacco containing cigarettes (with filter and without filter) was expected to be raised to €3.00 on 1,000 pieces in 2018, €5.00 in 2019, and €7.00 in 2020.
