Sunday, January 5, 2014

Afghanistan Slaps U.S. With $1 Billion Tax Bill | The Fiscal Times

Afghanistan Slaps U.S. With $1 Billion Tax Bill | The Fiscal Times

United States has poured billions into efforts to rebuild war-torn Afghanistan – but the Afghan government has violated an understanding between the two countries. It’s presented  the U.S. a billion-dollar tax bill and charged U.S. contractors hundreds of millions in questionable fees.
In a letter dated June 28 to members of Congress, John Sopko, the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), described the $1 billion in taxes imposed on the U.S. since 2008 as “the cost of doing business in Afghanistan.”
Those  taxes were paid   out of the $93 billion of U.S. aid   targeted during that period for strengthening Afghan security forces, improving crumbling schools and fostering economic growth in the region.  Sopko termed those taxes “improper” and said they had undermined  efforts “to achieve the U.S. goals” in that country.
- See more at: http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Articles/2013/07/02/Afghanistan-Slaps-US-With-$1-Billion-Tax-Bill#sthash.kmwARM7I.dpuf