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Main / News / Republic /
9 August 2022

Lukashenko dismisses berry and mushroom tax speculations as nonsense

Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko answered a question regarding a tax on wild berries and mushrooms in Belarus as he talked to the staff of Miory Rolling Mill on 8 August, BelTA has learned. 

“What are you talking about? While I am president, there will be no tax on wild mushroom and berry foraging! How do we tax people, how do we count berries and mushrooms? This is complete nonsense. We have never had such things and will never do this,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said. 

The head of state stressed that people can gather mushrooms, berries and other wild plants, sell them and conserve them. This relates to both residents of border regions and citizens of other countries, who are also allowed to pick wild plants in Belarusian forests. “Why should I forbid my people to collect berries and mushrooms, sell them? This is nonsense! Go ahead, pick more mushrooms and berries, sell them. I am a supporter of people finding ways to earn extra,” said the Belarusian leader. 

The president said that at one time the sanitary and epidemiological services called for banning people from selling products from their own gardens, including wild mushrooms and berries by the roadsides because of a potential risk to people's health. Back then the head of state said that such roadside stands should stay in place because people were responsible for their health and were able to figure out where and what to buy. 

As BelTA reported earlier, a renewed Tax Code has come into force in Belarus. The new Code has changed the procedure for paying income tax. In particular, income from the sale of mushrooms, berries, medicinal plants, nuts, etc. by individuals has been exempted from income tax. 

Tax authorities will require paying a certain amount only if a person who bought expensive real estate, vehicles or other items will explain his/her earnings by selling mushrooms and berries. In this case the tax will be 10%, and not from the entire sum but only from the part which exceeds 200 base amounts (one base amount is Br32).

Written by belta.by