The volume of tax revenues to the state budget of Azerbaijan in the first half of 2019 amounted to about 280 million manats, which is 12 percent more than the forecast, Azerbaijani Minister of Taxes Mikayil Jabbarov said at the conference "Fighting the shadow economy as an important factor in the development of the economy" in Baku on Sept. 13, Trend reports.

According to the minister, the increase was achieved due to the development of the non-oil sector of Azerbaijan.

At the same time, the indicator was the result of reforms in the tax sphere, and in the economy as a whole, aimed at legalizing business in Azerbaijan.

He noted that the shadow economy leads not only to tax evasion, but also to unfair competition and the oppression of legal business.