Iran’s tax revenues up 48% in 4 months

TEHRAN,July 26(MNA) – Iran’s total tax income amounted to 187 trillion rials (about $6 billion) in the first four months of the current Iranian calendar year, which began on March 21, a 48 percent rise year on year, according to Iranian National Tax Administration Director Ali Askari. Direct tax income hit 118 trillion rials (about $3.8 billion) in the four-month period, a 34 percent rise year on year, the Fars news agency quoted Askari as saying on Friday. Last December, Askari said the national budget bill for Iranian calendar year 1393 (March 2014-March 2015) has envisaged tax income of around 660 trillion rials (about $20.6 billion). On June 16, Iranian Finance and Economic Affairs Minister Ali Tayyebnia said the government is preparing a comprehensive incentive plan on taxes to attract investment and spur economic activities. Tayyebnia said the Iranian economy is heavily dependent on oil revenues, which account for about 70 percent of the national budget in the current Iranian calendar year. However, the government is determined to reduce dependence on oil through improving the tax system and boosting economic activities, he added.