Vitebsk tax authorities seek help from new homeowners in the fight against illegal builders

July 7, Vitebsk / Sergey Kochetov - BELTA /. Residents of multi-story new buildings have become the main target audience for tax authorities in the Vitebsk region during the ongoing "For Business Legalization" campaign to prevent illegal activities in the construction services sector, the Vitebsk Regional Tax Inspectorate informed a BELTA correspondent. New settlers often face offers of services in the construction and repair sector from specialists who work illegally, the inspectorate explained. According to tax authorities, illegal construction and repair services occupy a significant segment of this market. In the first half of 2009 alone, more than 230 cases of unregistered business activities in this sector were identified. Moreover, more than half (about 140) of such cases were identified in the regional center, as well as in Orsha, Novopolotsk, and Polotsk. The "For Business Legalization" campaign is initiated by the primary organization of the BRSM of the regional tax inspectorate. During the campaign, tax authority specialists conduct awareness-raising work among citizens who have moved into apartments in multi-story new buildings. Potential consumers are provided with information about the negative consequences of dealing with illegal operators, the advantages of working with business entities that have registered their activities in accordance with the law, as well as consumer rights. In addition, preventive work is carried out among professional builders. As of July 1, 2009, almost 500 individual entrepreneurs were registered in the Vitebsk region engaged in the repair of premises services, and their number increased by almost 40% over the half-year. -0-