The number of payers under the simplified tax system in the Vitebsk region doubled in 2009

December 18, Vitebsk / Sergey Kochetov - BELTA /. In the Vitebsk region, the number of taxpayers using the simplified taxation system more than doubled in 2009, the press service of the Ministry of Taxes and Duties Inspectorate for the Vitebsk region informed a BELTA correspondent. According to data as of December 1, 2009, over 8,000 taxpayers used the simplified taxation system, including almost 4,000 legal entities. The entry into force of Decree No. 592 of December 7, 2009 "On Amendments and Additions to Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus No. 119 of March 9, 2007" will provide a significantly larger number of business entities with the opportunity to use this system, the tax authority noted. The most significant innovation is the increase in the employee number criterion from 5 to 15 people for organizations to switch to the simplified taxation system, which use gross income as the tax base. In order to create conditions for increasing exports by small business entities using the simplified taxation system, the decree established a reduced tax rate of 3% of export revenue. The extension of the deadline for applying to switch to the simplified taxation system until December 31 gives business entities the opportunity to evaluate the innovations and decide on the possibility of its application. Tax inspectorates of the Vitebsk region are constantly working to popularize this taxation system, and memos on the conditions for switching and benefits have been developed. In addition, seminars and round tables were held among taxpayers throughout the year. According to data for January-November 2009, budget revenues from business entities using the simplified taxation system amounted to almost Br91 billion, including about Br76.5 billion paid by legal entities. -0-