Parliament: Serbia won't tax Churches

The Serbian parliament on Monday afternoon resumed a debate on amendments to the Law on Republic Administrative Taxes. The amendments to the proposed changes regulate new taxes that were previously under the jurisdiction of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro. Parliament: Serbia won't tax Churches The proposals also envisage increasing of other state taxes. Finance Minister Diana Dragutinovic told MPs that the government accepts an amendment tabled by DSS MP Nikola Lazic, under which Churches and religious communities, registered in keeping with the law, are exempted from paying administrative taxes. In his amendment, Lazic reminded that "the last time Churches and traditional religious communities were taxed was during the Ottoman rule". Both the Radicals (SRS) and the Alliance of the Vojvodina Hungarians backed his amendment. The opposition criticized the overall proposed changes, stating that they are aimed at increasing taxes, "which would become an additional burden for the citizens". Also in parliament this Monday, Speaker Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic scheduled the second special session of the current sitting for Wednesday. The meeting will be held at the request of 221 MPs. Lawmakers will debate drafts on the Standing Orders of the State Auditing Institution, and documents pertaining to the Commissioner for Information of Public Importance.

Parliament: Serbia won't tax Churches

The proposals also envisage increasing of other state taxes.

Finance Minister Diana Dragutinović told MPs that the government accepts an amendment tabled by DSS MP Nikola Lazić, under which Churches and religious communities, registered in keeping with the law, are exempted from paying administrative taxes.

In his amendment, Lazić reminded that "the last time Churches and traditional religious communities were taxed was during the Ottoman rule".

Both the Radicals (SRS) and the Alliance of the Vojvodina Hungarians backed his amendment.

The opposition criticized the overall proposed changes, stating that they are aimed at increasing taxes, "which would become an additional burden for the citizens".

Also in parliament this Monday, Speaker Slavica Đukić-Dejanović scheduled the second special session of the current sitting for Wednesday.

The meeting will be held at the request of 221 MPs.

Lawmakers will debate drafts on the Standing Orders of the State Auditing Institution, and documents pertaining to the Commissioner for Information of Public Importance.