Yerevan, November 16 /Mediamax/. Head of the State Tax Service of Armenia Vahram Barseghian stated today that the Department, headed by him, is carrying out concrete measures on increasing the tax proceeds to the state budget by the order of the President and the Prime Minister.

Mediamax reports that, speaking at a news conference in Yerevan today, Vahram Barseghian stated that due to the toughening of tax administration and the establishment of equal conditions for all the tax-payers, in the second half of 2007 the monthly tax proceeds to the budget are increasing on average for 8-10bln drams. According to him, the Tax Service will completely fulfill the program, set by the leadership of the country.

Answering Mediamax’s question on what changes are expected in the list of the largest tax-payers of Armenia, about which President Kocharian was talking the other day, Vahram Barseghian stated that they basically concern the volumes of the paid taxes.

Vahram Barseghian informed that at present, the tax service is carrying out checks in 500 legal entities. He clarified that there is a decision made on holding checks in separate branches of economy, to have clear understanding on the existing problems and the necessary legislative reforms.

At present, the sphere of mineral water production is examined and checks are taking place in “Bjni” CJSC, “Arzni” CJSC and “Jermuk Head Factory” Company. In the process of the checks, it was found out that the “Bjni” CJSC, which is included in SIL Group, in particular, sold products at the sum of 102mln drams, which it concealed from the tax bodies.

Vahram Barseghian stated that the analogous picture is formed following the results of the checks in “Pizza Di Roma” CJSC, which is also included in SIL Group. In this company, violations at the sum of 750mln drams were revealed, the Head of the Tax Service stated.

Criminal cases are initiated on the given facts.