New Mobile Tax to Record $ 333 Mln Annually

Chairman of the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA) stated that his government will obtain about $ 333 million in case that the Ministry of Finance enacted fees on mobile calls, amounting EGP 0.01 per minute.

Dr. Abdelrhman El-Sawy, NTRA Chairman noted that the proceeds of the taxes that the Ministry of Finance seeks to  impose fees on mobile calls will reach up to EGP 2 billion, or nearly $ 333 million, to be added to the state’s public treasury.

On his part, Minister of Finance Momtaz al-Saeed, said his Ministry was seriously considering charging a one-piaster tax on mobile calls, pointing out that the the total expenditures on mobile calls reaches up to EGP 20 billion ($ 3.3 billion) annually Anadolu Agency.

Eng. Khaled Hegazy, External Affairs Director for Vodafone Egypt, mentioned in an interview with the Anadolu Agency that any new taxes on mobile subscribers cannot be imposed without issuing a law, which would require that the president to use the legislative power allocated to him.