Stringent measures to stamp out fraud and tax evasion in the import-export sector.

The number of firms operating in the sector of import-export trade in Algeria increased threefold in 2008 with 9.000 new trade registers being recorded by the taxation services.

• This abrupt hike in the number of these firms, at the national level, followed the adoption of a new provision contained in the additional financial law for 2008 which allowed the creation of import-export firms on the basis of a declared capital reaching 20 million dinars or more.
• In a statement to the newspaper “Echorouk Al Yaoumi”, the Communication Manager at the taxation services Mr. Ouksel, indicated that the number of these firms reached 8.975 nationwide but only 4.000 of them had been recorded at the level of the fiscal administration.
• He also said that the amount of taxes collected by the services concerned, until October 31st 2008, reached 609 billion dinars.
• He noted that the tax returns could have been more important if the scourge of fraud and tax evasion prevailing, notably in the import-export sector, was checked.
• Lack of invoices, the recourse to front companies and fictitious invoicing and other fraudulent practices are used by certain venal and dishonest operators to circumvent the law and shirk the payment of taxes.
• According to Mr. Ouksel, a set of firm measures had recently been taken by the relevant services to stamp out this scourge which represents, he said, a serious threat to the national economy by dealing a blow to the state budget.