Taxes in Belarus

General information (see below)

Law and regulation of taxation in Belarus

Taxes in Belarus. Description

Special tax regimes in Belarus

Violations, crimes and penalties

Avoidance of double taxation in Belarus

General information

Belarusian system of taxation contains the following main taxes and duties:
- Profit Tax;
- Tax on Income from Securities;
- Value Added Tax (VAT);
- Payment to the National Reserve Fund for the Support of Agricultural Producers (Turnover Tax);
- Personal Income Tax (PIT);
- Pension Fund and Social Security Fund Contributions;
- Excise Tax;
- Real Estate Tax;
- Land Payments;
- Environmental Tax.

The general part of the Tax Code came into force on the 1st January 2004. In effect, the first part is a compilation of the existing tax legislation, rather than a set of new tax principles and rules.

The special part of the Tax Code is still being developed by the state authorities. Individual chapters are expected to be adopted in 2008.

In the Code's current form, it deviates significantly from the Russian Tax Code and provides stricter governmental regulations over business, and fewer taxpayer rights.

The basics of the tax system, including the list of taxes, the rights, duties and responsibilities of taxpayers, general definitions and tax administration and procedures, are all governed by legislation.

There are state taxes and duties and local taxes and duties in Belarus. A number of the special tax regimes are mentioned in the Tax Code: simplified system of taxation; taxation in free economic zones; gambling tax; lottery tax; unified tax for agricultural producers; unified tax for individual entrepreneurs and other individuals, and the taxation of various categories of taxpayers.

The Tax Code defines the payers of taxes and dues (duties) in the territory of Belarus. The following organizations are taxpayers:
- Legal entities of the Republic of Belarus;
- Foreign and international organizations, including those being not legal entities;
- Simple partnerships (contract partners in joint activity);
- Branches, representative offices and other separate sub-divisions of legal entities with their own separate balance sheets and a current (settlement) or other bank accounts.

The term "individuals" include: Citizens of the Republic of Belarus; Foreign citizens; Stateless persons.