How Belarusians Take Back Tax On "Parasitism"

Have the authorities backed off?

Those Belarusians who paid the tax "on parasitism," have started to get the money back, the authorities inform. DW has found a man, who managed to take it back a month ago.

Candidate of economic sciences from Mahiliou region, pensioner Piotr Mihurski claims that he was the first one to return the tax on "parasitism", which he had voluntarily paid. As early as June 2, 360 rubles were transferred to Mihurski’s bank card, although, only last week, the Belarusian authorities announced the official commencement of paying back to those who could have not paid this tax.

The Scandalous Decree

Lukashenka's Decree No. 3 "On the Prevention of Social Dependence", nicknamed the decree "on parasitism" in Belarus, saw the light in April 2015. It started to act in the autumn of 2016, when tax inspections sent out first letters to the citizens, who worked less than 183 days a year, with the requirement to pay 360 rubles of tax (about 175 euros in the equivalent). The payment deadline was February 20 of this year, but it turned out that only 54 thousand people (a shade over 11% of those who received the notifications) had paid the money.

With the onset of this date, mass protest rallies against the decree were held in almost all major cities of the country, and its operation was suspended. And in July, some "parasites" were already returned the money. It was reported by Deputy Minister for Taxes and Levies Sviatlana Shauchanka. Although, she could not say how many citizens had got it back.

The First One To Take It Back

Resident of the village of Dabreika in Shklou district, PhD in economics Piotr Mihurski claims that he was the first one in Belarus to return the tax on "parasitism". As early as June 2, 360 rubles, which he contributed to the budget nine months ago, were transferred back to his bank card. And he received the "decision to annul the notification" – the so-called official document issued by the tax inspectorate –even earlier, on May 30.

There will be few people like him, Mihurski is sure. After all, the economist started demanding the refund in March. He explains that after the February protests, the authorities themselves started to look for options of giving the decree an easy ride. And on March 15, all the regional newspapers published a clarification material entitled "Everything You Need To Know About Decree No. 3". It was then when Mihurski felt confidence that he would return his money.

Proceeding from the published explanations, in order not to pay the tax, it is enough for rural residents to take a certificate proving they have a household plot, Mihurski points out. He managed to get such a document, though not on the first try. But, unlike his fellow villagers, the economist had already paid the tax, so he had to file a new written application with the tax inspectorate to return the funds. And within a month, the tax notification, which he received in October last year, was canceled. "And the money came literally days after," – Piotr Mihurski says contentedly.

Mihurski believes that the authorities have played themselves into a corner. In the beginning, there was a kind of "socialist competition" among the village councils on identifying the "parasites". The scientist recalls that it was announced a figure of 400 thousand "parasites" across the country, and it was supposed to be spread evenly across 118 regions of Belarus, which meant that it was necessary to find the social dependency in each village.