In recognition of his honesty and integrity, Dubai police awarded Ali Jamal Al Balushi with a certificate of appreciation
uae3 hours ago
Egypt said it will tax social media content creators in a revenue raising exercise as more citizens look to online platforms to make a living.
Listen to this story and more on the 8@8 with David Light podcast
The tax authority said “YouTubers and bloggers” earning over 500,000 pounds ($32,000) annually would be taxed.
Egypt, the Arab world’s most populous country with over a 100 million people, has reached a 60 percent internet penetration rate, according to official figures.
Social media was awash with comments after the taxation move.
“Poor vegetable sellers are taxed, so we can also tax the rich,” an Egyptian wrote on Twitter.
But another said the latest decision would drive content creators out of the country.
Mohamed Al Gayyar, a senior tax authority official, tried to temper reactions on Sunday.
“Anyone who makes a profit in Egypt must be fairly taxed whatever their field of work is,” he said on public television.
In a late Saturday interview on private television, another tax official Mohamed Keshk said those who fail to comply with the new decision could be found in breach of tax evasion laws carrying a jail sentence of up to five years.
Pro-state, late-night television host Amr Adib questioned the revenue-raising exercise.
“How many bloggers are really out there?” said the anchor, who President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi regularly calls live on-air.
“The finance minister knows full well that there are millions of people who aren’t paying their fair share of taxes. They evade them,” he said.
Since 2018, authorities have placed social media users with more than 5,000 followers under supervision. They can be prosecuted for posting fake news.
In recognition of his honesty and integrity, Dubai police awarded Ali Jamal Al Balushi with a certificate of appreciation
uae3 hours ago
Strong demand is outpacing supply at a faster rate this year than estimated, especially after the UAE’s removal from FATF Grey List
uae4 hours ago
The initiative is expected to boost public transport usage
uae4 hours ago
Authorities urged people to wear face masks and glasses when doing outdoor activities
world4 hours ago
In 10 years, all operations of Dubai International Airport will be transferred to Al Maktoum International
aviation4 hours ago
The meeting saw the formation of four technical committees, one for roads and infrastructure, one for houses and properties, one for dams and water facilities, and one for energy and water
uae4 hours ago
Distance learning also implemented due to nationwide transportation strike
asia5 hours ago
For prospective investors, it is worth considering if a future home would be rain-resilient enough to sustain any weather changes
realty5 hours ago