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Belarus’ losses from Russian tax maneuver estimated at Br520m

MINSK, 16 September (BelTA) – Since the beginning of the year Belarus has failed to get Br520 million in customs duties due to changes in the taxation of the Russian oil industry, BelTA learned from Chairman of the State Customs Committee of Russia Yuri Senko on 16 September.

The official said: “We’ve lost more than Br520 million on oil and oil products. It is a rather complicated situation. It was not easy to compensate for the losses using other fees and duties.” Some of the sum – Br301 million – was compensated for by the VAT (higher revenues than last year) and duties paid by individuals as they imported goods, including excise duties and recycling fees.

The official pointed out that international forwarding companies more and more often choose Belarus for transit. The fact also contributes to the budget revenues. For instance, in January-August an extra 308,000 tonnes of freight went to Russia via Belarus in comparison with the same period of last year. “Truckers choose our border because it is safe and calm here and freight is cleared fast,” Yuri Senko noted.

In January-August 2019 the central state budget received Br5.94 billion as payments controlled by the State Customs Committee, 2.4% down from the same period of last year. The decrease in revenues from export customs duties on oil products is partially attributed to Russia’s ongoing adjustments of taxation of the oil industry. Revenues from other payments controlled by the State Customs Committee continue rising. In 2019 the budget is expected to receive Br8.7 billion, 3.9% up from 2018.

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