Shadowmatic Joins Call for U.S.-Armenia Tax Treaty

Bilateral Accord Key to Driving Growth of Armenia's Tech Economy

March 7, 2016

WASHINGTON, DC – Triada Studio, the Armenia-based creator of the Apple Design Award-winning Shadowmatic Game, is the latest technology firm to call upon the Obama Administration to negotiate a bilateral U.S.-Armenia Double Tax Treaty, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

In a letter sent today to President Obama, Triada Studio CEO Ara Aghamyan explained that his company is helping to drive the growth of Armenia’s tech economy, contributing to the expansion of U.S.-Armenia commerce, and – more broadly – fostering Armenia’s continued integration into the international community.” He noted, however, that: “Unfortunately, barriers to continued progress remain, including the prospect of double taxation. A U.S.-Armenia Double Tax Treaty would eliminate this risk, establishing a clear legal framework for companies that operate in both jurisdictions.”

Triada Studio joins Armenian technology firms, such as PicsArt, and global business leaders Microsoft, FedEx, NASDAQ, Marriott, Grant Thornton and others that have been on record for years supporting stronger bilateral economic relations efforts, including through a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA), which was adopted in May, 2015, and a modern Double Tax Treaty. Other firms in support of these common sense measures include: Ameria Banking Group, Prudence Legal Advisory and Counseling, Baker TilleyArmenia, Synergy, Tufenkian Heritage Hotels, Altacode, Leda Campus LLC, Levon Travel, Unicomp, Synopsys, Megerian Carpet, National Instruments, Mentor Graphics, First Mortgage, Geoteam, Hylink, LC Distribution, and Linkgard Systems.

In August of last year, senior ANCA officials met with U.S. Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew in Washington, DC to press for a new U.S.-Armenia Double Tax Treaty. The current treaty governing double taxation issues between the two countries is the 1973 U.S.-U.S.S.R. Tax Treaty, an outdated forty year-old accord. The lack of an updated double tax treaty between the United States and Armenia creates legal uncertainty that deters potential U.S. investors, diverts investment flows and disadvantages American businesses seeking to invest in the Republic of Armenia.

U.S. Representatives Judy Chu (D-CA) and Ted Lieu (D-CA) have appealed to Treasury Secretary Lew to begin negotiations for new Double Tax Treaty to address these concerns.

The ANCA has initiated a grassroots campaign urging the Secretary Lew to begin negotiations with Armenia. To take action, visit: anca.org/trade.

— Learn more about Triada Studio or to download Shadowmatic.

— Read a two-page ANCA brief on the benefits of a Tax Treaty.

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