Presidential decree exempts quake-affected Syrians from taxes
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – On Sunday, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad issued a legislative decree No. 3 of 2023 that exempts all quake-affected people from taxes and gives access to interest-free loans.
According to the decree, this is a step to relieve those affected “through an exemption from regular taxes, fees and financial costs, as well as, taxes and fees on reconstruction work, and the total or partial restoration of their facilities, shops, homes, and buildings.”
The decree also exempts the earthquake-affected people from income and subscription taxes and consumption values of telecommunications, electricity, and water services.
In addition, it postpones repayment of bank loans to the end of 2024.
The decree gives the affected people a chance to borrow from public banks loans that reach 200 million Syrian Pounds (about $26.000) to be repaid over ten years.
The Public Treasury of the State undertakes to pay the interest, and the payment starts three years after the loan is granted, according to the decree.
On March 1, the UN reported that the number of people killed by the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria has reached 50.000, many more are injured, tens of thousands are still missing, hundreds of thousands are homeless.