Vacancy Tax Becomes Law

The Guardians Council–a watchdog that ensures laws are in line with the Iranian Constitution and Islamic law—has approved the parliament’s bill on revisions to Article 54 of Direct Tax Code, i.e., vacancy tax. 
Abbasali Kadkhodaei, the council spokesman, tweeted that the parliament’s revised proposal on taxing empty homes was not found to be in violation of Islamic law and the Iranian Constitution in a Wednesday meeting. 
The Iranian Parliament approved the proposal on August 5, based on which empty homes in cities with a population of over 100,000 will be taxed after four months based on their assessed rental income tax on a monthly basis. 
The owners of these properties will have to pay six times more than the rental income tax in the first year, 12 times more than the rental income tax in the second year and 18 times more than the rental income tax in the third year and the following years.