Syrian Finance Ministry Denies New Taxes, Clarifies Azaz License Fee Decision
Syria's Ministry of Finance issued a statement on circulating claims of new taxes, clarifying that Decision 57 was issued by the Azaz city council's executive office on September 27 and concerns administrative trade license fees only.
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Key points
- Decision 57 was issued by Azaz city council's executive office on September 27
- It covers annual administrative trade license fees, not new taxes
- The Finance Ministry said it has no link to the decision
- Local councils in Syria cannot impose new taxes under central law
What did Syria's Finance Ministry say about new taxes?
Syria's Ministry of Finance issued an official statement responding to widely shared social media claims that new taxes or fees were being imposed on Syrians. The ministry clarified that the debate centers on Decision 57, issued by the executive office of the Azaz city council on September 27, a measure governing trade licenses and their administrative fees. It stressed the decision has no connection to the Ministry of Finance or its tax departments in any province. Azaz is a city in northern Aleppo province administered by local councils.
What are the Azaz trade license fees?
According to the statement, the fees in question fall under administrative license fees and annual professional practice charges. These are collected by local administrative units to fund their services and operating costs. In other words, this is not a new tax imposed on citizens but an administrative fee tied to practicing a trade within the city of Azaz specifically, and it does not extend to other Syrian provinces.
Who has the authority to impose taxes in Syria?
The ministry emphasized that tax policy in Syria falls under the state and its central laws and decrees, and that local councils have no authority to introduce new taxes. The clarification draws a clear line between service-related administrative fees that local units may set and taxes that remain the exclusive power of the central government through legislation or decree.
What does this mean for Syrians and business owners?
For business owners and shops inside Azaz, the annual administrative license fees collected by the local unit remain a requirement for practicing a trade and funding municipal services. Residents elsewhere in Syria are entirely unaffected by the decision. The broader message is that no new nationwide tax exists, and reports of this kind deserve verification against official sources before being believed or shared.
Frequently asked questions
Did Syria's Finance Ministry impose new taxes?
No. The Ministry of Finance denied imposing any new taxes in an official statement, clarifying that the circulating decision concerns administrative trade license fees in the city of Azaz and is unrelated to its tax departments.
What is Decision 57 in Azaz?
It is a decision issued by the executive office of the Azaz city council on September 27, covering trade licenses and their annual administrative fees, which the local unit collects to fund its services.
Do the Azaz fees apply across Syria?
No. The decision is local, applying only to the city of Azaz. It is an administrative fee for practicing a trade, not a general tax, and does not extend to other provinces.
Can local councils impose taxes in Syria?
No. According to the Finance Ministry statement, tax policy falls under the state and central laws and decrees, and local councils lack the authority to impose new taxes.
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