TEHRAN A senior official at Economic Affairs and Finance Ministry said that the draft bill on value added tax is undergoing final stages with respect to the special conditions governing the country. Speaking to IRNA on Tuesday, deputy for tax revenues of the ministry Ali Akbar Arabmazar expressed the hope that the bill will receive approval of the cabinet ministers by the year end (March 20, 1999) to be handed over to the Majlis for ratification.

He said to make the taxation system to correspond to the implementation of the oil-free macro economy in the country within the framework of regulating the economic structure, is the prime long-term objective of the tax revenue department. Meanwhile, he added, the Economic Affairs and Finance Ministry is taking greater strides towards attracting people's participation in fulfilling their tax obligations. According to Arabmazar the ministry also plans to offer a motion for the amendment of the direct tax law in an effort to prepare the ground for the formation of association of tax consultants.

This will enable tax payers to take advantage of consulting services of expert groups in observing law and defending their own rights. He pointed to the plan initiated by the Economic Affairs and Finance Ministry in which real estate owners were invited to deliver their tax forms on time. Arabmazar said that as a result of the implementation of the plan, the growth rate of real estate tax in proportion to direct taxes rose from 63 percent for the year 1374 (1995) to 281 percent for the first quarter of the current year (began March 21, 1998). (IRNA)