A draft decree on preventing 'envelope' salary payments has been developed in Belarus

December 22, Minsk /Lyudmila Sats - BELTA/. A draft decree to prevent "envelope" salary payments has been developed in Belarus. This was announced to journalists today by Deputy Minister of Taxes and Duties Vasily Kamenko, BELTA correspondent reports. According to Vasily Kamenko, it is not easy to detect "envelope" salary payments today. He believes that radical changes can only occur after the work on improving the relevant legislation is completed. "At the initiative of the Ministry of Taxes and Duties, a draft decree to prevent 'envelope' salary payments has been prepared. The document also introduces new norms that define what is meant by undeclared salary in accounting, what responsibility is provided for it, and others," the deputy minister said. He explained that current legislation provides for the employer's responsibility in the form of a fine if they pay a salary below the subsistence minimum. But if they officially pay a salary above one subsistence minimum and the rest in an "envelope," then if an employee appeals to the tax authorities on this issue, a paradox may arise. In particular, if a person reports that they receive an "envelope" salary, then according to the law, they will have to pay a certain amount of income tax. This, naturally, discourages employees from appealing to the tax authorities. The new decree regulates this issue: an employee in this case will be completely exempt from responsibility and the need to pay income tax. The employer will have to pay income and other taxes on their behalf. They will also bear administrative responsibility for the committed violation. However, to prove the payment of an "envelope" salary, the employee will need to provide documentary evidence to the tax authority or become a witness in court. The draft decree has passed all approvals and has been sent for consideration to the Administration of the President. -0-