As an important step to alleviate the suffering of those affected by the earthquake on February 6, the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, issued Legislative Decree No. 3 for the year 2023, as part of the recovery-related measures and policies. The decree includes a wide package of tax exemptions and financial fee waivers, taxes and fees on reconstruction works, and total or partial rehabilitation of their facilities, shops, homes, and buildings. It also includes an exemption from income tax on profits and property revenues, exemption from subscriptions and consumption fees for communication, electricity, and water services, and the postponement of bank loan repayments due from the victims until the end of 2024.
The decree annulled all tax and local financial fee assessments due from the victims before the date of its issuance. Furthermore, it provided victims with the opportunity to borrow from public banks an amount of up to 200 million Syrian pounds, to be repaid over 10 years, with the state treasury covering the loan's interest. The repayment is not immediate but rather starts three years after the loan is granted, with the treasury also bearing the related interest and commissions.
In terms of definitions, the legislator outlined a specific definition for the affected individuals, stating that they are owners or occupants of properties whose facilities, shops, homes, or buildings located in the affected areas have suffered total or partial destruction or cracking needing reinforcement due to the earthquake. The affected areas are defined as the provinces of Aleppo, Lattakia, Hama, and Idlib.
