Gulf News Report
Dubai: The prices of a number of commodities, goods and services are set to increase in Lebanon after the new bills signed by the President Michael Aoun came into force, Lebanese media said.
Public sector salary scale and accompanying tax bills were signed by Aoun earlier this week, according to the Lebanese English Daily Star newspaper. Laws were published in the official gazette on Monday.
New taxes have been added to several commodities and services, ranging from tobacco to shipping container fees and airport departure fees.
“For non-Lebanese travellers entering the country overland from Syria, a 5,000 Lebanese pounds ( Dh12.19) fee will be levied,” the Lebanese newspaper said.
Plane tickets will also cost more depending on the class of travel. A tax of 60,000 Lebanese pounds will be levied on economy class tickets, business class will be charged 110,000 Lebanese pounds and first class will be charged 150,000 Lebanese pounds, the paper said.
“Those arriving and departing Beirut’s Rafik Hariri International Airport in their own private jets will be charged 400,000 Lebanese pounds as tax.
The tax bill was discussed in “a heated session” in Lebanon’s parliament last July.
The law will affect not only consumer goods, but also electricity and water. An additional tax of 2,500 Lebanese pounds will be added to internet and telephone bills.
The law also includes increasing the cost of the official stamps for contracts, real estate contracts, as well as the cost of checking judicial records.
Business owners will also pay 17 per cent tax on their corporate profits, up from 15 per cent. Depositors and banks will have to pay 7 per cent tax on interest earned on deposits.
Importers will have to pay 80,000 Lebanese pounds as taxes on 20-foot containers, and 120,000 Lebanse pounds on 40-foot containers.
