Russian Supreme Arbitration Court has explained the rules for paying VAT when an insolvent debtor’s property is disposed of Pepeliaev Group advises of the publication, on 13 February 2013, of Resolution No. 11 of the Plenum of the Russian Supreme Arbitration Court (SAC) dated 25 January 2013 “On paying value added tax when the property of an insolvent debtor is disposed of”. This resolves,  to the benefit of creditors and buyers of bankrupt companies’ property, issues relating to the procedure and regime for paying VAT.

Amendments to migration legislation Pepeliaev Group informs you of important amendments to migration legislation.

Administrative liability tightened for violating currency legislation Pepeliaev Group reminds you that the amendments to part 1 of article 15.25 of the Russian Code of Administrative Offences tightening the liability for violating currency legislation will go into effect on 13 February 2013.

The Russian constitutional court has confirmed that administrative fines may be reduced «below the minimum threshold» Pepeliaev Group advises that the Russian Constitutional Court in its Resolution No. 1-P dated 17 January 2013 laid down a versatile legal position, according to which it should be ensured that the amount of an administrative fine is appropriate by having regard to the nature and other features of a specific administrative offence as well as to the material and financial positions of the offender. 

Proposed amendments to the regulation of certain banking and financial operations and controls over them Pepeliaev Group wishes to bring to your attention the fact that the Russian Government has introduced into the State Duma the Draft Law On Combating Illegal Financial Transactions (Draft Law № 196666-6), which, among other changes, enhances the level of controls over, and establishes criminal and administrative liability for violations in the sphere of countering legalization of proceeds from crime and terrorism financing.

The rates of customs charges are reduced by 25% when customs declarations are filed electronically Pepeliaev Group advises that additions have been made to the Russian Government’s Resolution No. 863 dated 28 December 2004, under which the rates of customs charges are reduced by 25% when a declaration is filed electronically.

Work permit under the new rules Pepeliaev Group reports that amendments have been made to the requirements for obtaining a work permit by foreign employees who arrive under a visa-free regime in the Russian Federation and intend to work in the sphere of housing and utilities, retail trade or public amenities.

Amendment to the Methodology for manufacturers of medicines to set maximum sale prices for medicines Amendments have been made to the Methodology for manufacturers of medicines to set maximum sale prices for medicines included in the list of vital and essential medicines approved by Order No. 961n/527a of the Russian Ministry of Health and Social Development and the Federal Tariffs Service dated 3 November 2010.

Regime for calculating the tax base for mineral extraction tax Pepeliaev Group advises that on 29 January 2013, the Presidium of the Russian Supreme Commercial (‘Arbitration’) Court (the “SAC”) will consider the regime for calculating the tax base for mineral extraction tax (“MET”) if, in addition to minerals for which the tax base is cal-culated using the estimated method, the company extracts minerals for which the tax base is de-termined using other methods.

The Government has approved the new requirements for protecting personal data when it is processed in personal data information systems The new requirements for personal data protection were approved by the Russian Government’s Resolution No. 1119 dated 1 November 2012 (the “Resolution”), which was published on 7 November 2012 in official journal Rossiiskaya Gazeta.

The Labour Ministry has proposed that employers sign up to the Federal Sector Agreement for Agriculture in the Russian Federation in 2012-2014 The proposal is contained in Letter No. 14-0/10/2-2202 of the Russian Ministry of Labour and Social Protection (the “Labour Ministry”) dated 8 October 2012, published on 12 October 2012 in official government publication Rossiiskaya Gazeta. 

Recommendations of the Russian Federal Tax Service for drafting and filing documents for the purposes of tax control over transfer pricing Pepeliaev Group advises that the Russian Federal Tax Service has published its recommendations for drafting and filing documents for the purposes of tax control over transfer pricing in relation to related-party transactions.