Veep launches comprehensive tax laws system to combat evasions, boost transparency
Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref unveiled on Tuesday Comprehensive Tax Laws and Regulations System as part of a concerted effort by the incumbent administration to digitalize taxing system and combat tax evasions.
In a meeting attended by Economy Minister Ali Madanizadeh and senior officials of Iranian National Tax Administration (INTA), Aref hailed the newly launched system as a significant step towards realizing the country's economic health and sustainability as well as a serious response to the long-standing need of economic actors for transparent and codified access to tax laws.
Pointing to the history of law revision across the country over the past two decades and emphasizing the importance of the issue, the VP said, “One of the most important reasons for inflation and contradiction in laws and regulations has been the approval of a new law without amending previous laws.”
Commending the valuable work done to clarify tax laws in the country, Aref said, “One of the ministries that most people are in contact with is the Ministry of Economy and the INTA.”
Touching on tax evasion and large-scale tax dodgers as a serious scourge for the Iranian economy, he underlined that funding the country's current expenses through tax revenues must become a sustainable strategy, and the objective will only be achieved through tax justice and confronting major evasions.
Aref, criticizing some strict approaches in tax legislation, said laws in the country should not be drafted to catch people out, but rather should facilitate economic activities.
He also praised INTA’s new approach in designing a comprehensive system of tax laws and regulations, stating, “This system is an important step towards transparency and combating corruption, and can help reduce administrative bureaucracy, accelerate tax payment processes, and enhance trust between taxpayers and the country's tax authority.”
According to Aref, the strategy of the incumbent government is based on establishing a fair tax system, ensuring managerial stability, eliminating legal conflicts, and designing mechanisms that, while reassuring the public, sustain tax revenues for the country's economic development.