The meeting of the working group on improving the tax policy, customs procedures and the accounting system was held on March 29, 2016 under the Foreign Investment Advisory Council chaired by the Deputy Minister of Taxes and Levies of the Republic of Belarus.
The proposals on improving the taxation procedure of payments (expenses) by social benefits, on the consolidation of facsimile application for signing of primary accounting records and on the possibility of taking to the accounting and tax accounting of the primary accounting records signed facsimile with the purpose of applying the provisions in subpara. 1.10 of para. 1 of the President Decree of the Republic of Belarus of 23.10.2012 № 488 “On some measures to prevent illegal minimization of the amounts of tax liabilities” were discussed during the meeting.
Representatives of working group noted that disputes often arise with regional offices of Social Security Fund (SSF) on necessity of appropriation of certain payments (expenses) to payments on which contributions on state social insurance are accrued, including vocational pension insurance. Representative of the Social Security Fund informed about the practice of social payments calculation for certain categories of payments.
Following the results of the meeting, members of the working group will bring issues requiring clarification of SSF, as well as possible proposals aimed to adjust the current legislation. These proposals will be considered by Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Republic of Belarus and SSF to prepare the relevant explanations and for possible implementation in legislation.
When considering proposals to consolidate the possibility of facsimile application to sign primary accounting records, as well as the possibility of taking to the accounting and tax accounting of the primary accounting records signed facsimile with the purpose of applying the provisions in subpara. 1.10 of para. 1 of the President Decree of the Republic of Belarus of 23.10.2012 № 488 “On some measures to prevent illegal minimization of the amounts of tax liabilities” the Ministry of Taxes and Levies of the Republic of Belarus noted that the tax authorities are not limited to formal matters for the adoption of tax measures during inspections in identifying the facts of taking to accounting of expenses on the basis of the costs of primary accounting records, signed facsimile, but collect additional relevant information confirming or refuting the fact of the transaction itself.
Following the results of the meeting of the Ministry of Taxes and Levies of the Republic of Belarus with concerned control and regulatory authorities will explore the issue on possibility to abolish the necessity of signing of primary accounting records or to apply the facsimile signing of such documents.