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YEREVAN, August 22. /ARKA/. The Armenian government has approved a simplified procedure for tax registration of individuals providing passenger transportation services through electronic platforms, such as GG, Yandex, and Utaxi, as well as private taxi drivers. This decision was announced by Rustam Badasyan, the head of the State Revenue Committee, during a government session on Thursday./pp
Badasyan emphasized that this move is another step toward fostering a culture of tax compliance in the country./pp
The decision relates to the simplified registration process for those offering passenger transportation services through electronic platforms, as well as private taxi drivers, Badasyan explained./pp
This decision is aligned with new legislative regulations set to take effect on September 1, 2024. One of the key changes includes the introduction of a mandatory state duty—1.5% of the fare for cashless payments and 2% for cash payments. These rates will gradually increase to 2.5% for cashless payments and 4% for cash payments by January 1, 2025, and further to 3.5% and 5%, respectively, by January 1, 2026./pp
Starting September 1, taxi drivers will also be required to issue electronic receipts to passengers for each trip, except when the trip is arranged through an electronic platform./pp
Badasyan noted that an application for this purpose will be ready by September 1. Today's decision means that individuals involved in passenger transportation via electronic platforms will not need to physically visit a tax office. The system will automatically transfer all data, including the tax code and taxpayer identification number (TIN), and will generate an electronic receipt after each trip, Badasyan stated./pp
For private taxi drivers, they will need to register with the tax service's It's Me electronic application, obtain a TIN, and manually generate electronic receipts. Badasyan added that there will be no need to install cash registers in taxis./pp
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan questioned why the state requires a license from taxi drivers if they are registered in the electronic application. In response, the head of the Competition Protection Commission, Gegham Grigoryan, explained that the license is necessary for the payment of state duties./pp
Pashinyan suggested simplifying or even eliminating the licensing requirements, stating that all citizens, including taxi drivers, should contribute to state-building efforts. The 20 drams they have to pay as a state duty will go toward building roads, ensuring traffic safety, and other such initiatives, the Prime Minister said./p br br
