From Digital Integration to AI: How the SRC is transforming the tax and custom

The State Revenue Committee (SRC) continues the deep modernization of the tax and customs systems by combining digitalization, international integration, and the use of artificial intelligence. The goal of these processes is to create a fast, predictable, and reliable environment that will support business development and increase Armenia’s investment attractiveness.

Within the framework of the Doing Digital Forum 2026, SRC Chairman Eduard Hakobyan spoke to Armenpress and addressed the substance of the ongoing reforms and the expected outcomes.

Armenpress: The SRC has now entered a phase where it is actively working toward the digital integration of tax and customs systems with other countries. In practical terms, what does this process involve, which countries are the priority targets, and what final outcome is expected?

Hakobyan: In recent years—and especially since 2025—the exchange of information for tax purposes has been carried out electronically, making the process significantly faster and more efficient. A specially encrypted system has also been launched with the tax authority of the Russian Federation, which is planned to be extended across CIS countries.

At the same time, as a member of international organizations, Armenia has aligned its information exchange systems with international standards, ensuring their security and reliability. In 2025, the work carried out in this area was completed with high evaluations, significantly enhancing Armenia’s reputation as a reliable partner.

The digitalization of the automatic exchange of financial account information has also been successfully implemented, in line with international standards. In 2025, automatic information exchange took place with 47 countries.

In terms of digital integration of tax systems, there are plans to create a unified, integrated system for document exchange among economic operators engaged in cross-border trade. All required documents and their exchange will be fully automated and converted into electronic format. Essentially, a single shared database of exchanged documents will be established. The system is envisaged to be created for the member states of the EAEU, with the possibility of including other countries in the future.

Digital integration is a key component of the “digital customs” model and implies not merely the digitization of paper-based processes, but real-time synchronization of data between states. This enables risk assessment to be conducted before goods reach the border, allowing compliant businesses to complete border crossings within minutes.

Regarding the integration of customs information, it is planned to introduce the provision of advance data on foreign economic activity (FEA) transactions, in order to make subsequent procedures faster and more efficient. In the initial phase, this process will involve Armenia’s neighboring countries—Georgia and Iran—with which it shares land borders. Later, it may also be extended to FEA conducted via air transport.

Armenpress: The increased transparency in international taxation is often perceived as a challenge for businesses. In your view, what advantages will compliant taxpayers and foreign investors gain as a result of these reforms, and how will this transform Armenia’s attractiveness?

Hakobyan: In today’s business environment, competitiveness is impossible without adopting international standards. Armenia is consistently developing its tax system by expanding double taxation avoidance agreements, implementing transfer pricing mechanisms, and introducing tools aligned with international standards for resolving tax disputes. The first advance pricing agreement has also been concluded, which is considered one of the key instruments of tax transparency.

All of this creates a predictable and reliable environment, enhances the country’s investment attractiveness, and ensures clear rules of the game for businesses. Another important direction is the development of mutual recognition with EAEU countries, which contributes to simplifying import and export processes.

Armenpress: The digitalization of the customs sector implies a significant acceleration of border crossing procedures. What specific digital tools or solutions will most effectively reduce the time and financial costs for businesses engaged in foreign trade?

Hakobyan: The digitalization of the customs sector makes it possible to significantly accelerate all border crossing and customs clearance processes, reduce time and financial costs for businesses, and ensure greater predictability. The State Revenue Committee of Armenia has already introduced—and plans to further implement—a range of digital solutions that cover the entire process chain, from the submission of preliminary information to the release of goods.

One of these solutions is the “Single Window” system, which allows businesses to submit all required data to various government agencies through a single platform.

Another planned solution is the Pre-arrival Processing system, which enables the submission of cargo information before it reaches the border.

Among the key tools are also AI/ML-based risk management systems, as well as a unified customs account, which will allow all customs payments to be made online through a single account.

In addition, there are plans for the full digitalization of operations at land border crossing points, including the automation of border procedures such as:

automatic identification of vehicles integration of weighing and scanning systems automatic data exchange with other government agencies

An electronic queue management system (e-Queue) for outbound traffic from Armenia is also part of the planned solutions. Its implementation is expected to eliminate congestion and queues at exit points and increase the predictability of the process.

The combined implementation of these solutions is expected to accelerate, simplify, and improve the management of the entire process, while significantly reducing both time and financial costs for businesses engaged in foreign trade.

Armenpress: The SRC is already applying AI tools in tax administration, and their introduction in the customs sector is also planned. What results have already been recorded, and which specific problems will AI address in customs processes?

Hakobyan: AI tools are already being used in tax administration to identify high-risk taxpayers. The system analyzes large volumes of data and detects anomalies, which then serve as a basis for planning audits.

In the customs sector, it is planned to introduce a “smart” risk management system that will analyze not only individual transactions but also the entire history of the economic operator.

AI will also be used for preventive purposes—flagging potential errors and risks in advance—as well as in the analysis of X-ray images.

Armenpress: What steps does Armenia need to take to become a technological and logistics hub, and what is the role of the State Revenue Committee (SRC)?

Hakobyan: Recently, the State Revenue Committee (SRC) has implemented a number of important reforms, including automated customs clearance, electronic notifications, 24/7 export operations, and a comprehensive modernization of risk management systems. I have already discussed the planned digital customs reforms in previous answers.

In the near future, customs and logistics centers will be established in Yerevan and Syunik, combining all services in a single location and reducing clearance times. At the same time, the Agarak and Bagratashen border points are being modernized to increase their capacity.

These measures are aimed at creating a fast, efficient, and technology-driven environment that will strengthen Armenia’s position as a regional logistics hub.

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On April 8, Yerevan will host the Doing Digital Forum (DDF), the premier event for digital transformation and financial technology, for the fourth consecutive year. Under the theme “Bridging Platforms and Economies,” the forum will bring together top local and international experts, business leaders, and public sector decision-makers.

The forum is organized by SPRING PR Company, with Visa serving as the Innovation Partner, imID as the Digital Identity Partner, aeda as the Blockchain Partner and Zangezur Copper Molybdenum Combine as the Industrial Transformation Partner, and Freedom Broker Armenia as the Investment Partner.

Since its launch in 2023, the DDF has brought together more than 60 distinguished speakers and over 3,000 participants from Armenia, the United Kingdom, the United States, the UAE, Germany, Australia, and CIS countries.