These days Belarusian tax authorities are actively sending Belarusians “luck chain letters” but for now will not be prosecuting those who ignore duty payment.
Belarusians were first sent such notices in October, the deadline for the payment was November 15. Those who received letters after November 15 had the payment period set for 30 days from the date of receipt.
The duty is 20 basic units (a basic unit today is BYN 21). The fine for non-payment or partial payment of the fine ranges from 2 to 4 basic units or administrative detention with compulsory community service.
According to the Ministry of Taxes and Duties, the relevant notices were sent to almost 73 thousand Belarusians who “have not participated in the financing of public expenditure or have done it for less than 183 days”. The duty has been already paid by almost 11 thousand people. It is almost 15% of all unmasked “social parasites”.
There is no need to hurry up with the payment, as the authorities are planning to make changes to the presidential decree #3 — it is likely that the new version of the decree will no longer include some “parasites”.
According to the press service of the Ministry of Taxes and Duties, in connection with possible adjustments to the legal act, it has been decided not to prosecute citizens who have not paid the duty.
Decree on “social parasites” was signed by Alyaksandr Lukashenka in April last year, and a few months later tax authorities stated that some parts of the decree need adjustment, saying that not all the “parasites” are parasites or the unemployed with an antisocial lifestyle.
The tax service also promised that unemployment checks would not be widespread and will affect only those who “do not live within their means”. However, in practice, the payment notices were sent even to the deceased.
