DUSHANBE, November 18, 2015, Asia-Plus – Delay in revision of Tajikistan’s national budget for this year may lead to some difficulties, Marina Bakanova, the World Bank Senior Country Economist for Tajikistan, said.

“We see these difficulties this year, and unfortunately, this (delay in reviewing the budget) will affect development in the next year,” she said.

Ms. Bakanova stressed that the parameters of the budget for this year had not been reviewed and the plans on implementation of the budget remained the same.

“As a result of tax arrears imports into the country fell 25 percent,” said World Bank Senior Country Economist for Tajikistan.  “At the same time, social spending remains unchanged.”

“There are certain problems related to tax administration, noninterference by tax bodies and imposition of various sanctions,” she noted.

Ms. Bakanova noted that tax arrears were compensated with various non tax revenues, including various sanctions-related fines, “which are not bad.” “Such a situation leads to diffusion of tax basis and it (the situation) will undoubtedly affect tax collection in the country in the future,” she added.

We will recall that experts from international organizations recommended last spring that the Tajik authorities should review parameters of the national budget for this year.