YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 2, NOYAN TAPAN. According to the 2007 draft state budget, the programmed revenues make 489.5 billion drams, which exceeds by 12.2% the approved revenues of 2006 and by 8.5% the revenues expected. In the indicated amount, revenues of 458.9 bln drams are expected from tax and state duties collection, including 48.4 bln drams (about 127.3 mln USD) thanks to improvement of tax administration and 4.5 bln drams as a result of possible amendments to the legislation. The RA Minister of Finance and Economy Vardan Khachatrian stated this when presenting the 2007 draft state budget during the November 1 joint sitting of the RA National Assembly standing committees. According to the minister, the government is now developing a program of tax administration reforms in 2007 and the next two years. The program is aimed at achieving a high level of budget revenues collection. The consistent fight against economic crimes will help create equal conditions for the economic competition among various economic entities, which will allow to reduce the impact of economic entities, which operate in the shadow sector or evade paying taxes, on the market. In 2007, the clarification and simplification of the laws related to the customs sphere, and the provision of customs bodies with technical equipment will continue. In response to NT correspondent's question, V. Khachatrian said that he does not see yet any new risks to the 2007 state budget compared with the previous two years. In his opinion, the only one is the ratio of taxes/GDP. By the draft, tax and state duty revenues will make up 15.7% of GDP against the 2006 programmed index of 14.7%.

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