Market traders in Baranavichy don't work

Most stalls that sell clothes at the Cooperative market remain closed.

Traders without certificates have again faced a situation of uncertainty. They don't know how much taxes they should pay in March if they resume work. The amount of additional payments will be set by a new decree, which is due to be signed, as the Ministry of Taxes promises, “in the nearest time”, Intex-press reports.

Decree No.222 that bans trading without certificates took force on March 1. Three days later, on March 4, the Ministry of Taxes said that a draft decree allowing trading without accompanying documents but with higher taxes was prepared.

Sellers say they can pay as much taxes as in the previous month and start working, but they will have to make additional payments when the decree is released. “Taxes may increase twofold or fourfold,” traders say. They will have to pay the difference by March 31 regardless their revenues and pay taxes for the next month.

Market trader Aliaksandr says people do not work because they fear uncertainty and wait for the amount of new taxes to be announced.

“If the increase is very high, it will probably be cheaper to trade with documents. Maybe my revenues won't cover the amount of extra payment. We are supposed to pay the remaining part of the taxes by March 31 and pay for the next month,” Aliaksandr says.

He explains that if taxes are, for example, doubled, he will have to pay additional 3 million for March and pay the taxes for April , which is about 5 million rubles.

“Traders will have to pay 8 million. But it may be so that they won't have such revenues. This is the problem,” he thinks.

On the other hand, the advantage of the situation is that traders can now choose how to work – with or without certificates.

“In any case, you will have to spend your money either on certificates or on taxes,” he explains.