Armenia Moves Within a Hair of a Flat Tax

On June 24, 2010, Armenia’s National Assembly reformed its tax code.  Effective January 1, 2011, all exemptions and deductions are removed from the personal income tax.  All income up to 120,000 drams (US$1.00=AMD 363.4) is taxed at 24.4%, with income above AMD 120,000 at 26%.  Armenian commentators describe the reform as a practically one-rate (flat-rate) tax. The new “almost flat” tax replaces the previous regime of granting a deduction of AMD 30,000, 10% on taxable income up to AMD 80,000 and 20% above AMD 80,000.  (The flat-rate profits tax increased from 20% to 26%.)

The rise in the personal income tax rate is offset as follows:

Elimination of the 3% social tax on employees.

Elimination of the sliding scale social tax on employers reaching 20% above AMD 100,000 per month.

Reduction in Value-added tax from 20% to 18%.