Armenia’s three telecoms pay 21.3 billion drams in taxes for first six months

YEREVAN, July 25. / ARKA /. Armenia’s three telecommunications companies – ArmenTel, VivaCell-MTS and Orange Armenia - have paid a total of 21.3 billion drams in various taxes in the first six months of the year, up from 19.9 billion drams paid in the same time span of 2013, according to the State Revenue Committee’s list of the 1000 largest taxpayers, released today.

According to the official data, some 20 billion drams were collected by tax authorities, 455.5 million drams by customs authorities and 1.28 billion drams were paid as state duties and other mandatory payments.

VivaCell-MTS is said to have paid 10.2 billion drams (the second largest colportage taxpayer for the first half) ArmenTel (trading as Beeline) paid 8.6 billion drams (4th place) and Orange Armenia paid 2.4 billion drams (18th place). 

Overall, the 1000 largest corporate taxpayers paid 325.9 billion drams in various taxes in the first half, up from 313.7 billion drams paid in January-June 2013. Topping the list is Armenia’s national natural gas distributor Gazprom Armenia, which paid 23.9 billion drams against 19.4 billion drams paid in January-June 2013.

ArmenTel is owned fully by Russian Vimpelcom. It provides fixed and mobile telephony services as well as speedy Internet service.

Orange Armenia is a 100 percent subsidiary of France Telecom and VivaCell –MTS is owned by Russian Mobile Telesystems (80 percent) and Lebanese Fattouch Group. ($1 – 406.56 drams). -0-