In a report released at a news conference in Dushanbe, Nusratullo Davlatzoda, the head of the Tax Committee under the Government of Tajikistan, revealed on February 18 that tax debts have reached 844 million somonis (equivalent to 75 million U.S. dollars) in the country.

“Tax debts rose 303 million somonis in a year to December 31, 2020, reaching 844 million somonis,” Davlatzoda said, noting that al number of tax debtors in Tajikistan is 35,000.  

Tajik chief tax officer noted that the most incorrigible tax dodgers are Open joint-stock company (OJSC) Tajiktelecom (Tajikistan's national fixed-line telecommunications provider) – 86 million somonis, Roghun hydroelectric power plant (HPP) – 67 million somonis, Tajik Aluminum Company (TALCO) – 38 million somonis, Sangtuda-1 HPP – 36 million somonis, Dushanbe International Airport (DIA) – 31 million somonis, Talco Resurs (Talco Resource) – 17 million somonis, and Aluminsokhtmon – 16 million somonis.  

Davlatzoda noted that the mentioned seven enterprises with a total tax debt of 291 million somonis account for 33 percent of the total volume of tax debts in the country.  

He further noted that tax arrears of large enterprises grew last year due to the coronavirus crisis. 

According to him, Tajikistan last year reached 93.7 percent of the tax collect target, which was 600 millon somonis less than it was originally planned.