KP Member Discusses Church Taxation Bill

The "Civil Contract" faction of the National Assembly is working on creating a project for the taxation of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church. This was stated by KP member Tsovinar Vardanyan during a joint meeting of the Permanent Committees of the National Assembly.

“There is currently no draft on church taxation circulating, but my colleagues and I are working in that direction. In response to the discussions that have emerged, it has been said that the church is taxed, but we need to understand what is meant by the church. Perhaps the clergy pay income tax, which is normal. However, we are currently examining thousands of properties under the management of the church, and we are not talking about monasteries but rather commercial, public, and production areas, as well as hundreds of residential buildings,” Vardanyan noted.

According to her, everything is being studied, and there will come a time when the initiative will have a logical outcome, and a corresponding draft will be ready.

"Armenia" faction secretary Artzvik Minasyan also mentioned that against the backdrop of such statements, the real estate under the jurisdiction of the Armenian Apostolic Church should be compared with properties of other religious organizations operating in Armenia.