Azernews.Az

Iran's direct tax income increased by 34 percent in the first half of the current Iranian calendar year started on March 21compared to the same period in the past year, IRNA reported.

The direct tax income amounted to 130 trillion rials (about $5.2 billion based on the US dollar exchange rate of 24,900 rials) in the mentioned period.

Earlier, Iranian Economy Minister Ali Tayyebnia said that tax evasion in the country should be dealt with .

"We are planning to increase tax incomes, not through raising charges, but through preventing from tax evasion," he said. "The goal will be achieved through establishing a comprehensive databank on tax affairs. The administration will place the priority on channeling liquidity into the production sector and provide economic enterprises with revolving capital.

The Iranian government's tax incomes increased by 22 percent from $2.62 billion from March 21, 2003 to $14.17 billion in the last solar year which ended on March 20, which has surpassed predicted figures of Iran's development plan .

Some $10.50 billion taxable income had been predicted to be earned in the year end of the fourth National Development Plan that ended on March 21, 2009.

However, the figure reached $12.11 billion which is 155 per cent more than the predicted value.