Iran said it would allow "low-risk" economic activities to resume from Saturday, April 11, as its daily coronavirus infection rates slowed for a fifth day in a row.
"Restarting these activities does not mean we have abandoned the principle of staying at home," President Hassan Rouhani said at a meeting of the anti-coronavirus task force.
The president, whose country has been battered by US sanctions, did not specify what qualified as "low-risk" activities, but said bans would remain on schools and large gatherings.
A gradual return of low-risk economic activity will be permitted from Saturday in the provinces and from April 18 in Tehran, Mr Rouhani said.
The coronavirus pandemic claimed another 151 lives over the past 24 hours in Iran, raising the country’s declared death toll to 3,603, health ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said on Sunday.
Mr Jahanpour also reported 2,483 new cases of Covid-19 infection, compared to a record number of 3,111 new infections on March 31.
Iran, the Middle East country worst affected by the pandemic, has reported 58,226 infections, a figure that some foreign experts suspect is an underestimate.
After resisting a lockdown or quarantine measures, Iran imposed an intercity travel ban late last month.
Last Saturday should have marked a return to regular activity in Iran after a two-week holiday for the Persian New Year.
Mr Jahanpour criticised "those who think that the situation is normal now that the holidays are over, because it is not normal".
While some people in Tehran said they were reassured by the government's response, others remained fearful.
"There have been a lot of people out on the streets the last two days. It's terrifying," homemaker Zohreh said.
But Zahra Zanjani, another homemaker, said she believed the situation was under control.
"People are very respectful" of instructions from authorities, "and are taking great care", she said.
A retiree named Amir worried about the economic effects of the pandemic.
"People still have expenses to pay," Amir said.
"They can't stay at home. The government needs to support them financially."
In Isfahan, Iran's third largest city and tourism capital, teacher Samira, 35, said many people were ignoring advice to stay home.
"I passed by two parks and saw 25 to 30 people in each," she said. "Public gardens are supposed to remain closed."
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
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