The State Duma allowed Putin's friends who fell under sanctions not to pay taxes in Russia. "United Russia" exempted "Putin's friends" from paying taxes in Russia Taxes for those subject to sanctions

President of Russia Vladimir Putin signed a law on the tax residency of those Russians who were included in the sanctions lists. The corresponding document was published on the official legal information portal. Why did the government decide to take such a step and what is more important to this extent - political or economic? Understood Federal News Agency.

As follows from the text of the law, individuals who are subject to restrictions can henceforth not pay taxes in Russia, regardless of the length of stay in our country. To do this, they simply need to confirm that in the same tax period they were residents of a foreign country. And what sanctions the amendment will apply to will be determined by the government.

“Those who have dual citizenship must declare it, and then they will not be subject to double taxation. They will simply pay another state. As far as I know, there are no such people on the Western sanctions list. Well Dmitry Rogozin, Does he have dual citizenship? This is a political bill that aims to provide moral and moral support,” the head of the State Duma Committee on Economic Policy, Industry, Innovative Development and Entrepreneurship briefly commented in a conversation with FAN Sergey Zhigarev.

As Lenta writes. ru, On March 22, the law was adopted by the State Duma in the third final reading. Then the author of the amendment Andrey Makarov explained that the proposed changes are aimed at protecting the interests of Russian citizens who are subject to sanctions. After all, a problem arises: a person is formally a resident of the Russian Federation, but sanctions provide grounds to recognize him as a resident of any other European state.

The law says this: “If during the tax period an individual was subject to restrictive measures introduced by a foreign state, then this person may not be recognized as a tax resident of the Russian Federation because he was a tax resident of another country.” To do this, you just need to submit a special application to the authorized agency in Russia. And attach a tax residence certificate issued in another state to it.

“Even if we assume that all people subject to sanctions are exempt from personal taxes, there will not be any significant losses for the economy. If we talk about companies, there is a scheme to support businesses that are subject to restrictive measures. This law can be seen as a political gesture that is addressed to our external rivals, but also has general economic significance. They are making it clear to everyone: those who have suffered from active sanctions will be protected. Roughly speaking, we don’t abandon our own. This may include people who will suffer from Western sanctions in the future. The President gave the signal. How long all this will last is no longer a question for us. Yesterday, Putin made it clear: if the sanctions are forever, then our trade embargo and counter-sanctions will also be forever. This is a sign to our business: if such circumstances arise, we will find a solution to support the local manufacturer,” says an analyst at the Institute of Contemporary Development Nikita Maslennikov.

According to the Tax Code, tax residents are those individuals who actually stayed in Russia for at least 183 days during the year.

“For many fellow citizens, this is perceived with some skepticism or a sour-lemon aftertaste: they say that everyone close to the authorities was included in the sanctions list. And here the presidential administration needs to comment on the law and its meaning. We need to explain everything clearly, what the true motivation is: those on the list got in, but this is a signal to everyone. Tax officials will weigh everything thousands more times, and there will still be decisions of a subordinate nature. As for sanctions, we have already seen precedents when restrictive measures were introduced not because of the events in Crimea, but in connection with alleged suspicions of the supply of some products to countries that are under sanctions regimes. This story will be ongoing, so we have nevertheless developed a mechanism for protecting our own business. And if something happens, we are ready to find new protective measures to compensate for losses,” adds the FAN expert.

Businessmen who fall under sanctions will be exempt from paying taxes. The corresponding amendments to the Tax Code of the Russian Federation were adopted by the State Duma in the second reading on Friday. The document allows individuals on the sanctions list to recognize themselves as non-residents of the Russian Federation and pay taxes “at the location of the business or property,” as required by foreign legislation.

The author of the bill is Head of the State Duma Committee on Budget and Taxes Andrei Makarov, explained that these people found themselves in a difficult situation, having been included in the sanctions lists. Western tax authorities also consider them their residents. And if previously the problem of double taxation was solved by concluding relevant interstate agreements, then “in conditions of unprecedented pressure on the country” this method will not work.

At the same time, Makarov assured that non-residents will pay personal income tax on Russian income not 13%, but 30%, so the Russian budget will not suffer.

The head of the Center for Economic Research at the Institute of Globalization and Social Movements, Vasily Koltashov, did not believe the deputy’s statements. Adopted amendments to the Tax Code in a conversation with NSN he called it “an insult to Russian law.”

“This is not just the protection of citizens, these are privileges,” said Vasily Koltashov NSN. - The presence of someone’s property abroad is not the business of the Russian state. And it should not encourage such a situation.”

According to Koltashov, a situation is emerging in which the state is patching up a hole in the budget by increasing the burden on the population, and “a business that has fallen under sanctions is exempt from paying taxes in the Russian Federation, because it supposedly has tax liability to foreign countries.”

“This looks like a complete mockery of the Russian state itself. If such a law is adopted, it will essentially become anti-state and hostile to the interests of Russian society. And those who are subject to sanctions will not look like innocent victims persecuted by the US and the EU, but rather insidious evaders and cunning people with enormous influence,” the interlocutor is convinced NSN.

Koltashov noted that the amendments adopted to the Tax Code will create a situation in which it will become generally unprofitable to pay taxes in Russia, and there will be an interest in falling under sanctions or “proving that you are under sanctions.”

“This law is clearly disruptive. On the eve of the presidential elections, he jeopardizes the reputation of the executive branch in the eyes of even the least interested Russians in politics, because it is impossible to so openly slap taxpayers, I mean the masses, in the face. People are shown what a colossal gap exists in the interests of those who fell under Western sanctions and other citizens of the Russian Federation who need to live in this country, provide for the future, and raise children. It turns out that Russians should welcome Western sanctions, because they reveal the most harmful elements of society,” the economist concluded.

Let us remember that in 2014 the EU and the USA imposed sanctions against 150 Russians and Ukrainians. Thus, the head of Rosneft Igor Sechin, businessman Arkady Rotenberg and his brother Boris, businessman Gennady Timchenko, as well as deputies, politicians and public figures were included in the action lists.

This amendment was approved by the Russian State Duma Committee on Budget and Taxes. What do you need to do to get such attractive benefits?

Russians subject to sanctions will be exempt from taxes. The corresponding amendment was approved by the State Duma Committee on Budget and Taxes. According to Interfax, the amendment was considered on March 13 at a committee meeting. However, there is no such document either on the committee’s website or in the database of State Duma bills.

To obtain a tax exemption, they will need to demonstrate that they were tax residents of a foreign country during the same tax period. The length of stay in the country does not matter. The law will have retroactive effect: persons subject to sanctions will be able to apply for exemption from the status of tax residents of Russia, starting from January 1, 2014.

Director of the Moscow office of Tax Consulting UK“In this case, absolutely all businessmen would like to be sanctioned, because it’s beyond my head to come up with such an amendment. That is, this means that Russian tax rules do not apply to these people. Because the tax code applies to whom? For tax residents of Russia. Therefore, the amendments are truly unique; I don’t know anything like this anywhere in the world. And the question arises: won’t these people by any chance have to pay extra for all this? In my opinion, this is a bit too much, because when a person is not a resident in some country, he is a resident in some other country. Therefore, in some places he doesn’t pay taxes, but in others he does. But here it turns out that people live in Russia, are absolutely freed from all tax obligations, and at the same time are not burdened with them anywhere. It is difficult to even say in what connection such an innovation came to mind, but I will assume that it is unlikely to be accepted, because these will be completely unfair competitive conditions. New with a lot of benefits in terms of benefits.”

Individuals will have to submit applications for non-recognition as Russian non-residents in 2014-2016 to the Federal Tax Service before July 1, 2017. However, it is not yet clear whether the “sanctioned” citizens will be able to return the taxes they have already paid.

In particular, businessmen Gennady Timchenko, Arkady Rotenberg, Igor Sechin, Yuri Kovalchuk, Nikolay Shamalov and Konstantin Malofeev remain under sanctions. Tax exemption should become an incentive for investment, for example, in Crimea, says political scientist, professor at the Higher School of Economics Nikolai Petrov:

Professor of the Higher School of Economics“It seems to me that this is more of an adjustment forward than backward. And, rather, this is due to the fact that in the conditions of a bad investment situation, the authorities are trying to protect representatives of big business, work on those projects that can easily be subject to sanctions and thus stimulate their participation in investing in the development of Crimea and the Kerch Bridge , and everything else. But I would believe that this is being done not so much for those who have already come under sanctions, although they will also benefit from this, but for those who, for fear of falling under sanctions, do not invest in those regions and in those areas. where it could easily become a subject of sanctions policy. Since hopes that it will be possible to reach an agreement with the Americans on easing the sanctions regime, at least in the near future, will not be realized, it is necessary to think about how to get out of the situation.”

Business FM was unable to reach the Chairman of the Duma Budget Committee, United Russia Member Andrei Makarov, who initiated the amendment. The day before, the EU Council extended for six months, until September 15, the effect of personal sanctions against 150 individuals from Russia and Ukraine and 37 organizations associated with the self-proclaimed DPR and LPR.

The editor of the site is about whether it is fair that the State Duma will exempt those who are subject to Western sanctions from taxes.

There is a point of view that taxes are a fee that all citizens of the state pay for the services that the state provides them. Services are varied - from ensuring security (this is done outside the state by the army, and inside by the police) to free education and healthcare.

One can argue about who is guaranteed security in Russia. There is no longer even room to argue that free education and especially healthcare have become worse lately. Nevertheless, taxes are collected - and they tirelessly think about how to collect them more and better; people regularly speak out about this. So, is this needed for some reason?

On Friday, it approved in the second reading, according to which Western businessmen who fall under the control can receive tax exemption in Russia from their foreign businesses. Moreover, the press reported that the cherished amendments were not “attached” to a completely different bill almost until the very last day.

I think this story can tell us a lot about why and why we actually pay taxes. It seems that this is actually a tribute levied on those Russians who have not suffered enough.

Of course, we all live in a new reality, in which many, if they suddenly want, go on vacation outside their homeland, because there they can become a target for Russophobes. Medicine is also at full speed towards import substitution - not because of sanctions, but because of - and I would really like to wish everyone interested in what this will lead to never find out from personal experience. Finally, one of the most obvious consequences of Russia’s demarcation from the outside world remains the notorious ones introduced by Russia. Prices for some things have increased in stores, some things on the shelves have turned from cheese into a “cheese product” - all this has been discussed many times.

But all this, of course, is nonsense - everyday troubles, an everyday matter. All this daily damage to millions of Russians cannot be compared with how Russian businessmen, millionaires and billionaires suffer for the state/sovereign cause. They suffer not only financially (after all, according to the law, what is taken from them due to foreign sanctions is compensated from the budget), they also suffer morally. Because of injustice and unfair competition in the form of sanctions. Some actually fell under them on the ridiculous (and, no doubt, false) basis that they allegedly personally know and are close friends with. Of course, these people need help.

The Duma claims that they are only saving businessmen from double taxation: now they have to pay taxes both abroad, where they have a business, and at home, where they live permanently, because sanctions do not allow them to go abroad. Moreover, they pay attention to the fact that Russian tax rates are lower than Western ones, so that the tax payments of Russian millionaires “squeezed out” from the Russian budget to foreign budgets will also increase.

What is the benefit for businessmen here, I can understand: at least not to pay twice. What is the interest of the state here, which, as we remember, “has no money”? What is the interest of the population of this state, which elected this State Duma?..

Some time ago, colleagues from the publication Meduza prepared an interesting video about how much Russians actually pay to the budget in the form of taxes (spoiler: much more than the 13% that is on everyone’s lips).

One can argue whether it is good or bad that a simple worker or a public sector employee pays the same percentage as a millionaire or billionaire. A more interesting question, however, is another: if the stratification of society increases from year to year (and in Russia this is the case) and the disproportion between the earnings of the poorest and richest only increases - will it one day turn out that the taxes of the richest minority give the budget more than taxes? the poorest majority?

This would probably also be unfair. Good thing, then the state would have reasons to protect its main “sponsors” - that is, the richest.

Now this, of course, is not happening, and the “squeezing out” of taxes of businessmen subject to sanctions abroad, approved by the State Duma, is the clearest confirmation of this. So, maybe it’s for the best that the Russian state will reject this “bribe” and refuse to take taxes from those businessmen who suffered from the hostile actions of the West?

May the readers forgive me for the fact that I have lately used this phrase at the end of my texts - we will see soon. If we estimate how much will be lost from budget revenues thanks to the initiative of the State Duma, we will feel it ourselves.

The State Duma adopted a bill on tax exemption for sanctioned citizens

The State Duma adopted in the third and final reading a bill that allows citizens subject to sanctions to renounce Russian tax residency. The Duma opposition did not support the bill. 322 deputies voted in favor, 85 voted against, and one parliamentarian abstained.

According to the approved amendment to tax legislation, individuals who have been subject to sanctions since 2014 will be able to avoid paying taxes in Russia, regardless of the length of stay in the country, if they confirm that they were residents of a foreign state in the same tax period. According to the law, tax residents of Russia are citizens who stay on the territory of the state for more than 183 days a year.

The LDPR, Communist Party of the Russian Federation and A Just Russia factions did not support the bill.

“We will not support the adoption of the law in the third reading, because this law is aimed at providing material support to the richest citizens of our country - almost all of them are on the Forbes list,” said LDPR leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky.

The Communist Party faction also stated that it would not support the law. “Not only do we not support this law, but we are also going to vote against it,” said communist Valentin Shurchanov. “The oligarchs and groups of owners close to them are leaving the control of the Russian Tax Code.”

The A Just Russia faction shares the same opinion. “We consider such a decision to be dishonest, unfair and incorrect in relation to the Russian budget,” said Oleg Shein.

The author of the bill, Chairman of the Committee on Budget and Taxes Andrei Makarov (United Russia), explained that the amendment will help avoid double taxation for citizens who have property in Europe and the United States and pay taxes in these countries, but are forced to permanently reside in the country due to sanctions Russia, becoming tax residents of two countries at once.

The deputy emphasized that if a citizen “recognizes himself as a resident of another state, he will pay income tax not 13%, but 30% (on income received in Russia - RNS), that is, we are talking about increasing the tax burden, not reducing it.” . In addition, such a citizen will not be able to hide information about controlled foreign companies (CFCs), since since 2017 Russia has been participating in an international agreement on the exchange of tax information, Makarov pointed out. Automatic exchange will begin in 2018.

In Russia, a citizen pays 13% on retained earnings of a CFC. However, not all countries have a CFC mechanism (for example, the United Arab Emirates, Switzerland, the Czech Republic and most offshore companies). As a result, if a citizen is a resident of such a country and, according to the amendment, renounces Russian residency, he will be able to avoid paying tax at all.

The list of countries whose sanctions will give the right to refuse Russian tax residency will have to be determined by the government. The Cabinet of Ministers supported the bill.

Well, it seems like comrades are going the right way. And, which is typical, sanctions were imposed by the USA and Europe, and citizens are exempt from RUSSIAN taxes.

All that remains is to free citizens who have fallen under sanctions from the criminal code of the Russian Federation. And they are free from conscience for life.

And life experience suggests that this is only the beginning of the process. After all, why were they exempt from taxes? Because it’s hard for them, poor things. Who has it easy now? Wow! Next there will be tax exemption for all owners of factories, newspapers, and steamships who are Russian residents. After all, it’s hard for them too. Any more and the Criminal Code will be amended in their favor. And then they will think about people. Two hundred showers, for starters...