Analytics and brochures

An amended draft law has been put before the State Duma which makes the term “controlled indebtedness” more specific when interest under debt obligations is included in expenses (the “thin capitalisation” rules). 

On 29 December, President Vladimir Putin signed a number of laws, including Federal Law No. 473-FZ "On territories of advanced social and economic development in the Russian Federation" established a legal regime for Russian territories, measures of state support, including significant tax benefits, and the procedures according to which business is done in such territories; and Federal Law No. 458-FZ "On amending the Federal Law 'On production and consumption waste', certain items of the legislation of the Russian Federation and on repealing certain items of legislation (provisions of items of legislation) of the Russian Federation". The law introduced responsibility for manufacturers and importers for waste generated from their products. Companies must keep up with the standards for waste disposal. Those who fail to observe the requirements will have to pay environmental fees to the state budget.

The Russian President has signed amendments to the Russian Tax Code (Federal Law No. 382-FZ dated 29 November 2014), according to which Moscow, St Petersburg and Sevastopol may introduce a sales tax from 1 July 2015. The rate of the sales tax will be set by the cities themselves depending on the sales outlet or its area. Taxpayers will be able to deduct the sales tax from the profit tax they pay.

On 4 November the Russian President signed the following federal laws:
No. 348-FZ "On amending part one of the Russian Tax Code". Russia will have a system of proactive tax control (so-called tax monitoring) for major organisations,

Federal Law No. 308-FZ "On amending the Russian Criminal Procedure Code" dated 22 October 2014 has been signed. Russian investigators have the right to initiate criminal cases with regard to tax crimes at their own discretion (without the tax authorities having to issue a decision to this effect).

On 26 September the State Duma adopted Federal Law “On amending articles 12 and 85 of the first section and section two of the Russian Tax Code and invalidating the Law of the Russian Federation “Concerning Taxes on the Property of Physical Persons”. This law deals with renovating and changing tax on the property of individuals so that it is based on the cadastral value of the property. A three-level tax rate has been created. The transitional period for the modified property tax will be five years for all regions including cities of federal importance.