MINSK, 11 April (BelTA) – Equal taxation conditions for the import, production and sale of automobiles in Belarus have been created, representatives of the Belarusian Tax Ministry told BelTA as they commented on decree No 130 of 4 April 2011. The decree amended decree No 546 of 24 November to exempt imported automobiles from VAT and excise duties regardless of the country they are imported from. Earlier the preference was not available for imports from Russia. The VAT taxable base is determined as a difference between the purchase price and the sale price regardless of the place a vehicle is bought (thus vehicles can be sold by natural and juridical persons). Earlier the preference was available only to entities that sell automobiles that they import to Belarus in line with decree No 546. Amendments to decree No 175 of 4 April 2009 exempted automakers from excise duties on cars and automobile components of their own manufacturing and exempted automakers from VAT on sales of cars of their own manufacturing. The previous version of the decree lacked these preferences. The new decree also provides for removing the VAT on manufacturing equipment and automobile components, which are imported from Customs Union member states to make cars. Once decree No 130 of 4 April 2011 comes into force, equal taxation conditions will be created for the sale of vehicles, which are imported to Belarus or acquired by automobile dealerships from juridical and natural persons in the country, and from Belarusian producers.

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