Overview of tax events for April 2021

Regulatory Developments

The following governmental draft laws have been submitted to the State Duma (the lower chamber of the Federal Assembly of Russia):

• No. 1147902-7 regarding the discontinuation of the double tax treaty with the Netherlands.
• No. 1151605-7 “On amending article 149 of Part II of the Russian Tax Code” regarding the extension of the period of VAT relief on certain services in the context of the FIA Formula One World Championship.

The Russian Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media has drawn up new measures for exerting pressure on foreign IT giants, including the introduction of a new tax.

The Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs has decided to appeal to the Russian Government asking that a tax relief be enshrined in the Russian Tax Code for withdrawing capital which has been stipulated by the double tax treaty with Cyprus.

The Government will keep an eye on how businesses utilise their revenues. If the revenues are spent in an inappropriate way, the authorities will collect them by introducing new taxes.

Nothing has been said about amending the tax treaties between Russia and Switzerland during discussions with the Russian Finance Ministry, the Swiss ambassador in Moscow reported.