Local companies and multinationals involved in software production are waiting to see if the Government will maintain or not the exemption from payment of income tax for IT programmers.

The Government has committed, under the additional memorandum of understanding agreed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the EU to expand the tax base inclusively by eliminating the exemption from income tax for IT programmers.

The Government previously had the intention to cancel incentives dedicated to programmers back in 2008, but went back on its decision, so the its letter to the IMF has been received with relative calm in the IT community.

According to Varujan Pambuccian, a member of the Information Technology and Communications Committee of the Chamber of Deputies, these decisions are not final yet, considering that they have to be adopted by the Government. He said he had pointed out the negative effects of this measure to the finance minister and to the communications minister, such as the prospects of programmers emigrating.

Software development companies say eliminating the exemption from payment of income tax for IT programmers is not likely to have a major impact and will not bring significant amounts to the state budget.

Local companies and multinationals involved in software production are waiting to see if the Government will maintain or not the exemption from payment of income tax for IT programmers.

The Government has committed, under the additional memorandum of understanding agreed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the EU to expand the tax base inclusively by eliminating the exemption from income tax for IT programmers.

The Government previously had the intention to cancel incentives dedicated to programmers back in 2008, but went back on its decision, so the its letter to the IMF has been received wi