It seems that most of the biggest taxpayers are foreign companies invested in the Armenian economy. “The copper and molybdenum plant of Zangezur”, “Armentel” and “Armrusgazard” are again the first three biggest taxpayers of Armenia. The first company has German share in it and the other two companies belong to Russian companies (“Vimpel Com” and “Gazprom”). There are only two local companies among the first ten biggest taxpayers, i.e. only two of them are registered as domestic companies (“Flesh” and “City Petrol Service”). In fact, “Salex Group” (9th place) and “The copper-molybdenum plant” are not foreign companies. “Salex Group” belongs to NA deputy Samvel Alexanyan. Definitely Mr. Alexanyan registered his company as a foreign company so that he has some privileges not to pay taxes as a foreign investor. As for the other company, in fact it belongs to some governmental representatives; they have founded companies in other countries and registered the most profitable businesses in the name of those foreign companies so that they don’t pay taxes.
There aren’t any significant changes in the list of the biggest taxpayers and the companies included in it are almost the same. There are only a couple of changes, which can be explained logically. Firstly, the companies have paid more taxes this year than they did last year. It is logical that in parallel with the economic growth as well as their budget is growing. This is the logical point; however there are companies that have paid less tax this year. For instance, “Multi Group” that belongs to Gagik Tsarukyan filled the 141 place last year (245.229 .000 dram), but this year it fills the 182 place (less by 43 million dram). By the way, “Kotayk” beer company used to belong to him too and last year it was sold. Before being sold “Kotayk” company filled the 135th place in the list of the biggest taxpayers and paid 256.818.000 dram, but after being sold this company paid 646.000.000 dram. We asked dozens of shops to find out whether they have started selling more beer, but we found out that the sale capacity was almost the same, which means that the mentioned factory was shady and didn’t pay a part of its dues and taxes.
This year “Mika Armenia Trading” company that belongs to Mikhail Baghdasarov and imports petroleum fills the 20th place (1.961.000 dram). Last year this company filled the 13th place (2,8 million dram). It is hard to say why the tax payment capacity of this company was cut down this year since it is a monopolist in that field. It is supposed that Baghdasarov operates his businesses in shady conditions too. By the way, as well as “Armavia” company paid significantly less tax this year than last year (it belongs to Baghdasarov too). This company is operating in the same manner as last year and the number of its passengers and operated flights are not less than last year. However, it is said that this company has some financial problems, which are conditioned by operating other international companies in Armenia as well.
The next companies are Samvel Alexanyan’s businesses that import sugar in Armenia. This year these companies have paid significantly less tax too. For your information, this businessman used to import sugar to Armenia with the help of his “Flitfood” company. Last year he founded another company (Salex Group) and shared his business in these two companies. He has done such things before too; this is done to escape from much tax obligations. “Salex Group” has paid only 5 billion dram in 2006, most of which is customs payment. “Flit Food” has paid 332.681.000 dram. This company paid 7 billion in 2005. In a word, these two companies together paid about 5 billion dram in 2006, which is less by 1,6 billion than the sum paid in 2005. It is worth mentioning that last year the price of sugar was increased. They said that the reason was the growth of world prices, which was true. Nevertheless, at the end of last year the head of the state commission on price regulation, Ashot Shahnazaryan said that Samvel Alexanyan had a long-term contract for importing sugar, thus the price changes could not influence on the real price of import. 99% of sugar imported in Armenia is imported by Samvel Alexanyan’s businesses. The mentioned commission declared “Salex Group” a monopolist and instituted relative proceedings. In a word, the mentioned taxpayers have started paying less tax. There seems to be no reasons for that, indeed there are reasons in consideration of the fact that the parliamentary elections are approaching.