Saturday, October 23, 2010

Cuba details taxes for the self-employed

22 October 2010 Last updated at 17:28 GMT

Cuba details taxes for the self-employed

The Cuban government has outlined the taxes that will have to be paid by
the country's growing number of self-employed workers.

It is the latest stage of President Raul Castro's reforms to move Cuba
away from a solely state-run economy.

Self-employed workers will have to pay 10% income tax, while those who
take on staff will pay more.

It comes after the government announced last month that it was laying
off half a million state workers.

Cuba's new tax code is detailed in the latest edition of the country's
Communist Party newspaper - Granma.

The article includes an explanation that no government can provide
services without gaining tax revenues.

In addition to the 10% income tax, workers will pay another 25% into a
social security account from which they will in time draw a pension.

The coverage in Granma adds that successful businesses will see their
tax burden rise as they take on more staff.

The government is reducing the once all-encompasing role of the state in
the hope that it will boost a stagnant economy.

However, people setting up their own firms will be limited to just 178
professions, including car maintenance and rabbit farming.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11610429

No comments: