Why did the parliament take back their Eid to the artists?
While members of parliament had approved the abolition of the tax exemption for artistic activities, which was referred to as the Eid al-Fitr for artists, the law was repealed, and the tax exemption for artists was reversed so that art activists would be required to pay taxes. .
Theater News Base: In recent weeks, after the publication of the resolution of the Joint Commission on the abolition of tax exemptions for artists in various fields, a campaign was launched and more than 10,000 people signed a letter addressed to the Speaker of Parliament, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, protesting against this decision.
“After the global epidemic of coronary heart disease, we are witnessing the support of governments around the world for jobs. “They have become a pandemic. Instead of witnessing the protection of artists, by removing this exemption, we will see two hundred times more damage and no support for artists.”
The letter was signed by various artists, and following the follow-up, the deputies finally voted to maintain the artists’ tax exemption on March 25. In this case, even the deputy chairman of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Abbas Moqtadaei), referring to the artists ‘complaints about the budget bill for paying the artists’ taxes, had said that with the March 4 resolution of the Assembly Artists will not be taxed next year.
But now, less than 10 days later, the members of parliament have changed their minds According to Rahim Zare, spokesman for the Integration Commission, the tax exemption for artistic activities such as actors, the subject of paragraph (l) of Article (139) of the Law on Direct Taxes, is applicable only up to two billion rials (200 million tomans) per year and more. Depending on the case, it is subject to tax at the rate of Article (105) or Article (131) of the Law on Direct Taxes (25% coefficient).
Previously, under Article 139 (l) of the Direct Taxes, artistic occupations were exempt from tax. These occupations are in several categories: production, reproduction, distribution and screening of films, including cinema and home / production, reproduction and distribution of music scenes, distribution and sale of audio and video works, including home and television / theater and stage performances / visual and traditional arts Are defined.
In recent days, informed artists have criticized the case, with Manouchehr Mohammadi, for example, saying: “And how much art can be imagined at best, then judge for themselves whether that number is worth all the extra effort and work for the tax administration?”
Although the living conditions of artists and the lack of unemployment insurance have been one of their unresolved concerns in recent years, which has been debated many times, the fundamental question about the new parliamentary decision is what caused the deputies to turn their backs and why the artists Does not apply to tax reform? It should also be asked whether the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance was aware of this issue and what action it has taken for it?
Homayoun Asadian – Director and Producer – after a group meeting of artists with the Speaker of the Parliament in an interview with ISNA said: We did not say to eliminate the tax on filmmakers, but the problem is that there is no clear definition of the job of filmmakers in the Tax Affairs Organization. The type and type of work we do is such that we may be employed for 6 months and then remain unemployed for two years. Iranian film directors may produce a project every few years.