2 Billion Drams of Additional Funds to Be Injected into State Budget - Atom Janjughazyan

Finance Minister Atom Janjughazyan is not in a rush to state what fate awaits the changes in tax burden regarding carbonated beverages, pawn shops, and exchange points.

"In that case, any statement on my part would be not a forecast, but a guess," he told reporters today at the National Assembly. Regarding the criticisms, especially about the 60-fold increase in taxes, the minister mentioned that he takes the criticisms normally.

"A direct reduction of the tax burden implies, at least in the short and medium term, the risk that less revenue will be collected for the budget. Therefore, this shortfall in collected revenues carries a risk of insufficient income collection in the short and medium term. Since we have a debt limitation, the emphasis should be shifted from income tax and capital tax to consumption taxes," emphasized Atom Janjughazyan.

Janjughazyan added that changes in state taxes are expected to inject 2 billion drams of additional funds into the state budget.