Armenia Custody Statements & Tax Certificates

Good recordkeeping is your best audit defense. In Armenia, "custody statements" and official tax certificates prove what you earned, paid, and where you are tax resident. Knowing which records to keep, in what format, and how fast you must produce them can make or break an audit response or a foreign tax credit claim.

Below is a practical, Armenia‑first guide to custody statements, tax certificates, and electronic records—what to keep, when to request, and the timings set by the Tax Code.

Legal framework: RA Tax Code obligations for recordkeeping and electronic records

The Tax Code of the Republic of Armenia requires taxpayers to maintain supporting documents for their tax accounting and returns—such as receipts and contracts—so that calculations can be verified during audits. These records must be attached to or available to substantiate filed tax data upon request by the tax authorities. The Code also recognizes that official personal tax account statements accessed electronically are valid records for evidentiary purposes, including printing them when needed for audits or cross‑border use. See Articles 312–315 of the Tax Code for the overarching recordkeeping and certificate rules.

• Taxpayers must keep supporting documents that back their filings and calculations (Tax Code, Articles 312–313).
• Electronic access to and printing of official personal tax account statements is expressly permitted and such statements are deemed official records (Article 313).
• For businesses operating in Armenia, core bookkeeping and audit obligations also flow from national accounting rules and are enforced by the State Revenue Committee (SRC).

What counts as custody statements: receipts, contracts, payroll and bank account statements

In practice, "custody statements" are the documentary trail proving your income, expenses, and withholding in Armenia. Under the Tax Code's requirement to keep supporting documents, the following commonly serve as custody statements for individuals and businesses:

• Receipts and invoices for deductible expenses and business costs (Tax Code, Articles 312–313).
• Contracts and annexes (employment, services, leases, loan agreements) supporting income or expense claims (Articles 312–313).
• Payroll records: payslips, withholding summaries, and employer declarations supporting personal income tax and social contributions; businesses must maintain compliant accounting records in Armenia.
• Bank account statements, which may be requested in audits to verify transactions and income. Individuals can be required to submit statements within 3 business days, with penalties for non‑compliance.

Quick checklist: custody statements to keep

• Official receipts/invoices for any income‑related expense.
• Signed contracts and amendments for employment, services, rentals, loans.
• Payroll and withholding slips; employer confirmations.
• Bank statements for all accounts used for income/expenses in Armenia.
• Tax payment receipts and acknowledgments from the SRC personal account.

Official tax certificates: residency confirmation and certificates of taxes paid for non‑residents

Two SRC certificates are commonly required for international filings and double‑tax relief:

1. Tax residency confirmation: Confirms that the individual (or company) is a tax resident of Armenia—often required by foreign tax authorities to grant treaty benefits. The SRC must issue this certificate within 2 working days upon request (Tax Code, Article 314).
2. Certificate of taxes paid to Armenia (for non‑residents): Provides evidence of Armenian withholding or tax paid on Armenian‑source income so a non‑resident can claim foreign tax credits in their home jurisdiction. The SRC must issue this within 10 working days of application (Tax Code, Article 315).

Which document you need and when

Document	Common use	Issuance time
Tax residency confirmation	Claim treaty benefits or prove Armenian tax residency abroad	Within 2 working days of request (Tax Code, Art. 314)
Certificate of taxes paid (non‑residents)	Foreign tax credit on Armenian‑source income in home country	Within 10 working days of application (Tax Code, Art. 315)
Bank account statements	Audit substantiation of transactions and income	Provide within 3 business days if requested; penalties for failure
Personal tax account statement	Proof of filings, balances, and payments	Available online; printable and deemed official (Tax Code, Art. 313)

How to apply for certificates (residency or taxes paid)

1. Gather identification and supporting records: passport/ID, tax ID number, and any relevant payment or withholding documentation that matches SRC records (supporting documents are required to substantiate requests per Articles 312–313).
2. Submit a request to the SRC: individuals can access official statements via their personal tax account, which are deemed official and printable (Article 313). You may request issuance of certificates through the SRC using the same personal account or via direct application as applicable.
3. Track statutory timelines: residency confirmations within 2 working days and non‑resident taxes‑paid certificates within 10 working days (Articles 314–315).

Personal income declarations (Universal Declaration): who must file, compliance rates and audit risk

Armenia is implementing a universal personal income declaration framework to expand transparency and tax compliance. Recent data reported in Armenian media indicate very low filing numbers compared to the target population: 35,000 of about 900,000 individuals submitted income statements as of April 2025 (≈3.9%). Separately, the head of the SRC has highlighted shadow‑economy activity, estimating turnover of about 240 billion AMD, underscoring the government's focus on verifiable income and transaction trails.

What this means for you:

• Expect closer attention to documentary proof. The SRC is empowered to request bank statements and other custody statements quickly—within 3 business days in the case of bank statements—to verify reported figures.
• Maintain a clean evidentiary chain. Receipts, contracts, payroll records, and online tax account statements should be organized and retrievable to substantiate your Universal Declaration and any subsequent audit checks (Tax Code, Articles 312–313).
• If you have cross‑border income or are claiming foreign tax credits or treaty relief, plan ahead for the SRC certificates discussed above.

Electronic filing and acceptable document formats: online tax accounts and printable official records

Armenia's tax administration accepts electronic records and recognizes official statements available through a taxpayer's personal online account as valid documents. You can access and print your personal tax account statements, and these printouts are treated as official records under Article 313 of the Tax Code.

Practical points on formats and workflow:

• Download or print PDF copies of your SRC personal account statements for your files; these are official records suitable for audits or foreign tax requests (Article 313).
• Store contracts, invoices, and payroll documents in searchable electronic form; keep originals where available to support authenticity if examined (Articles 312–313).
• Be ready to retrieve bank statements promptly if the SRC requests them during checks or audits (3 business days).

Conclusion

Armenia custody statements and tax certificates are the backbone of audit readiness and cross‑border filings. Keep receipts, contracts, payroll records, and bank statements organized; rely on your SRC personal account for official statements; and request residency or taxes‑paid certificates in time for foreign filings. These steps reduce audit risk and keep your Armenian and home‑country obligations aligned (Tax Code Articles 312–315; SRC timelines).