Penalty for Not Issuing Cash Register Receipts Set at 600,000 Drams

During the government's meeting today, it was decided to equalize the penalty for not issuing cash register receipts (CRRs) in the food industry and other sectors, raising the fine to 600,000 drams. Presenting the proposal, Finance Minister Atom Janjughazyan noted that MPs suggested softening the penalty for violations of CRR regulations in the public catering sector. The MPs substantiated this by stating the need for a unified approach across all sales points.

Minister Janjughazyan acknowledged the necessity for a unified approach but emphasized that instead of lowering fines for food points, the penalties for other sectors should be increased. “We agree to a unified approach, but not in the direction of lowering, rather in raising,” said the minister, reminding that organizations operating in the public catering sector currently have the opportunity to operate both as value-added tax payers and within a general taxation system. If previously their risk was associated with other organizations in the supply chain, which could lead to losses or administrative issues, there are now specific incentives in place.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan reminded that there are currently two levels of penalties for not providing cash register receipts: 600,000 drams in the public catering sector and 150,000 drams in other sectors. “We agree to the proposed equalization, but lowering it contradicts our political messages. We are stating that the fight against the non-issuance of cash register receipts will be strengthened twofold, threefold, or even fourfold starting from 2020. In all cases, if we are to agree, 150 should become 600, not the other way around, so that the seriousness of our intentions is clear to all. It would be strange to talk about CRRs so much and then reduce the penalty for the non-issuance of CRRs for any reason. Reducing the fine is unacceptable; increasing it is acceptable, but if there is no consensus, it is better to leave everything as it is,” emphasized Pashinyan.