Syria - Taxation

Relatively low salaries have kept the tax base narrow, and price controls have restricted the taxable profits from industry. By decree in 2001. the president raised the minimum exemption for income taxes to 1000 Syrian pounds (about $22). There are taxes on individual income (at progressive rates 5% to 12.5%) and business profits (at progressive rates 10 to 45%). Shareholding companies and industrial limited liability companies are taxed at a flat rate of 32% and 42% respectively. For Syrian residents, income from movable capital—interest, royalties, and foreign sources of dividends—are taxed at a flat rate of 7.5%; for nonresidents, the rate is 15% unless reduced by an applicable tax treaty. There is no general sales tax, but taxes are assessed on specific items like petrol, rice and sugar.