Uzbekistan, Tashkent, April 1 / Trend, D. Azizov /
Uzbekistan has introduced new excise stamps with additional protection for alcohol and tobacco produced in and imported to the country on April 1, 2013.
As reported earlier, the government issued a decree on the introduction of new excise stamps in February.
Excise stamps for alcohol and tobacco products are updated every two years for protection against forgery. Excise stamps for alcohol and tobacco products were last updated in Uzbekistan in 2011.
According to the order, Uzbek enterprises producing alcoholic beverages may purchase excise stamps after transferring 50 percent of the nominal value of the stamps for alcohol beverages and the total nominal value of excise stamps for tobacco. Importers of these products purchase excise stamps after the excise tax is fully paid.
According to the regulation approved by the Ministry of Finance, the State Administration of Taxation and the State Customs Committee, the sale of alcoholic beverages and tobacco products already marked with old excise stamps is enabled until January 1, 2014.
It was reported that the ethyl alcohol excise tax rate has increased by 15 percent up to 3,031 soum per dal since Jan. 1, 2013 compared to 2012. Tax on brandy, vodka and other alcoholic beverages with an ethanol content of less than 40 percent increased by 20 percent up to 26,160 soum per dal. Tax on the same products with an ethanol content of more than 40 percent increased by 20 percent, up to 43,105 soum.
Excise tax on natural wines increased by five percent to 5,230 soum, on fortified wines by 15 percent to 5,728 soum, on beer by 15 percent to 2,975 soum per dal.
Excise tax on filtered cigarettes has been set at 13,424 soum per 1,000 pieces (a 20 percent increase), on non-filter cigarettes - 6,479 soum per 1,000 pieces (a 25 percent growth).
Excise duties on imports of these products in 2013 will remain at the 2012 rate and make 70 percent, but no less than a dollar per liter for beer, $6 for wine, $7 for vodka and $14.5 for brandy.
Excise tax on imported cigarettes increased by 40 percent to $18.2 compared to $13 per 1,000 cigarettes a year earlier.
According to the official statistics, Uzbekistan increased production of ethyl crude alcohol by 10.7 percent up to 6.038 million dal in 2012 compared to 2011.
Vodka and liqueur beverage production increased by 7.3 percent to 12.534 million dal, cognac by 11.4 percent to 106,800 dal, wine by 10.5 percent to 2.342 million dal, champagne by 5.7 percent to 127,500 dal last year. Beer production dropped by 20.6 percent to 18.44 million dal in 2012.
According to the Uzbek state budget parameters, it is planned to ensure 14.8 percent of its revenues at the expense of the excise tax in 2013.
The official exchange rate on April 1 is 2039.60 soum / $ 1