OREANDA-NEWS. December 14, 2012. Some Belarusian companies exempt from VAT will have to pay a tax on land and real estate starting 2013, Belarus taxation authorities reported on Wednesday.

In accordance with the Belarusian Tax Code, the land tax will be imposed on companies and sole traders who own a land plot over 0.5 ha. This regulation does not apply to agricultural land, the source added.

The real estate tax will be imposed on legal entities that own premises of over 1,500 square meters. Owners of smaller premises may be subject to the real estate tax too, if they give their premises for rent of lease.

According to the official statistics, as of November 1, 2012, Belarus had 138,578 taxpayers exempt from VAT among legal entities, including 52,302 companies and 86,273 sole traders. In January-October 2012 their tax payments totalled Br3.714 trillion (3.5% up on the year).