Azerbaijan, Baku, 6 June / corr. Trend I. Khalilova/ The system of the custom tariffs, approved in 2001, is not expected to undergo any changes in 2008, Aydin Aliyev, chairman of the State Customs Committee (SCC) of Azerbaijan said. Earlier SCC proposed the government to transfer into four-level differential tariff system.
The rates 0%, 0,5%, 1%, 3%, 5%, 10% and 15% have been functioning in Azerbaijan since 2001. SCC proposed 0%, 5%, 10% and 15% tariffs. The majority of the goods (raw materials and equipment) and those with 0.5 custom dues are subject to zero rates.
It concerns all types of groups of goods (especially 84 of 85) which are subjected to zero VAT import rates at the order of the Cabinet of Ministers. They account for about 10%-15% of the import goods.
According to Aliyev, the change in the custom dues can be considered by the end of the year during budget discussions. The exemption of import from taxes is exercised in only emergency situation during the year as it was in case of rice, flour and wheat (exemption from VAT was extended for1 more year).
Though the planned indicators on the collection of the custom dues and taxes have increased, the introduction of tax privileges was necessary for national interests. According to Aliyev, rise in the wheat products worldwide did not affect the domestic grain market that much, but this decision was adopted not to increase the import of grain, but to stabilize the prices in the essential foodstuffs market.
"State Customs Committee was one of those who initiated introduction of tax privileges. We have fulfilled 5-month plan and we plan to find new reserve to fulfill the forecast worth AZN1.110bln," Aliyev said.
In a period prior to Azerbaijan's admission to the World Trade Organization, the custom agencies are instructed to re-consider the custom taxes and dues and to introduce a new model and protect the intellectual property rights.
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