Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Dec. 28 / Trend D. Azizov /.
Starting January 1, 2013, Uzbekistan is increasing the rate of excise tax on alcoholic beverages and tobacco products produced in the country by an average of 16.4 per cent compared with 2012.
New excise tax is approved by the Decree of Uzbek President on 'Forecast of main macroeconomic indicators and parameters of the state budget of Uzbekistan for 2013'.
Alcohol excise tax will increase by 15 per cent up to 3031 thousand sums per dal compared to 2636 soums last year. Ttax on brandy, vodka and other alcoholic beverages with an ethanol content of less than 40 per cent will increase by 20 per cent, up to 26,160 soums per dal compared to 21,800 soums last year. Tax for the same products with an ethanol content of more than 40 per cent will also increase by 20 per cent, up to 43,105 soums compared to 35,921 soums last year.
Excise tax on natural wines will increase by five per cent, from 4744 soums to 5230 soums, on fortified wines by 15 per cent, to 5728 soums, on beer by 15 per cent, from 2156 soums to 2975 soums per dal.
Excise tax on filtered cigarettes is set at 13,424 soums compared to 10,739 soums per thousand units last year (a 20 per cent increase), on non-filter cigarettes and cigarettes - 6479 soms (previously 5183 soums, a growth of 25 per cent).
Excise duties on imports of these products in 2013 will remain at the 2012 rate and make 70 per cent, but no less than a dollar per litre for beer, six dollars for wine, seven dollars for vodka and 14.5 dollars for brandy.
Excise tax on imported cigarettes will increase by 40 per cent to 18.2 dollars compared to 13 dollars per thousand cigarettes a year earlier.
As reported by Trend, Uzbekistan increases the minimum wholesale selling and retail prices of alcoholic beverages (excluding beer) from January 1, 2013.
The minimum wholesale selling price for brandy, vodka and other alcoholic beverages will increase by 25 per cent from 5000 to 6250 soums, the retail price by 24.6 per cent, from 6100 to 7600 soums per litre.
Selling prices for wine will be increased by 25 per cent from 2200 to 2750 soums and retail prices by 24.1 per cent, from 2700 to 3350 soums.
Sale of alcoholic beverages at prices lower than the statutory minimum wholesale prices is prohibited.
According to official statistics, production of vodka and other alcoholic beverages in Uzbekistan in January-September 2012 increased by 6.7 per cent to 8.949 million litres, of which cognac by 31.3 per cent, to 74,600 dal, of wine by 24, 5 per cent, to 1.686 million dal, of champagne by 39.7 per cent, to 57,500 dal.
According to the approved budget parameters of Uzbekistan, the excise tax budget's revenue is due to increase by 14.8 per cent in 2013.
The official exchange rate for December 28 - 1984.00 soum/$1