PRICES OF GARMENTS WENT UP
Support A1+!After the presidential elections prices of garments have significantly increased. Vendors state the reasons for the increase are high custom taxes.
Alvard, who sells clothes at the “Russia” trade center, complains that the clothes imported three months ago were taxed 1 dollar and 6 cents per kg. Further on, the tax rose to 2,5 dollars and after the elections to 4 dollars. “The most curious thing is our authorities can forge an explanation for everything. But explanations are of little comfort to us – we hardly coped with previous taxes, and the present one is going to be an ordeal”, she said.
Another trader, Emma, says an attempt was made to explain the tax increase by the depreciation of US dollar, both in Armenia and abroad. “But there are people abroad who keep in touch with us, and say the dollar change rate has remained the same. Besides, it does not explain the increased prices of goods produced inside Armenia”, she said.
According to another point of view the reason is a high VAT, “It is as high as 20%, leaving behind even Russia with its 15%. People from abroad say it means you’ve got good economic conditions, which is hardly true”, they say.
The traders have been embarrassed also by the amendments to the Law on simplified taxation. “They say our business doesn’t fit to the simplified taxation. But why, we are minor businessmen as well. In that case, one has to have undeclared income sources to manage all that mess”.
