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Inicio > Lista de los paises > La fiscalidad

Rusia: La fiscalidad

Consumption Taxes

Nature of the Tax: VAT : Nalog na dobalennyu stoimost (NDS)
Standard Rate: 18%
No VAT for SME except for imports activities.
Reduced Tax Rate: The reduced rate of VAT in Russia is 10% and mainly concerns foodstuffs and children's clothes. A zero VAT rate is applicable (but is not limited to) to the following operations:
- export of goods to a destination outside Russia;
- transportation, loading/unloading and arranging of transportation, loading/unloading of exported goods performed by Russian organisations or Russian individual entrepreneurs;
- transportation, loading/unloading and arranging of transportation, loading/unloading of imported goods performed by Russian organisations or Russian individual entrepreneurs (except for Russian railway carriers);
- works (services) related to the transportation of goods in transit;
- some goods and services supplied to foreign diplomatic missions.
Exclusion From Taxation: Exports are not subject to VAT.
Imports of medical products, medicines and technological goods as well as income from medical services, sales of medicines, banking or insurance products are exempt from VAT.
Method of Calculation, Declaration and Settlement: The tax is applied to the sales price.
The declaration is made once a month unless the amount of tax is less than 2 million roubles; in that case it is made once a quarter. In general, payment must be made before the 20th of the current month.
Other Consumption Taxes: There are excise duties on many luxury goods, in particular on cars, motorbikes, alcohol and tobacco.

Corporate Taxes

Tax Base For Resident and Foreign Companies: Russian legal entities are taxed on their worldwide income.
Foreign legal entities which have a permanent establishment in Russia (subsidiary, branch, agency, etc.) are taxed on the income earned by this establishment in Russia. Expenses occurred abroad by this establishment can be deducted.

Tax Rate

Corporate tax	20% (2% payable to the central government and 18% payable to the regional government which have the power to reduce the regional element by up to 4%.)
SMEs	13%

Tax Rate For Foreign Companies

The taxation of an establishment belonging to a foreign legal entity is similar to that of a Russian entity.
A foreign company's income of Russian origin may be subject to deduction at source. This concerns, in particular, dividends, interest, royalties, sale of shares in a Russian company or of real estate.

Capital Gains Taxation

Long term capital gains are considered in the same way as other income and taxed at the same rate as Corporate tax, i.e. 20%.

Main Allowable Deductions and Tax Credit

All expenses (with a few exceptions) are deductible if the documents confirming these expenses, even indirectly, are provided.
Research and Development expenses are deductible up to 100% until 2 or 3 years after the end of the project.

Reduction of up to 4% of profit tax is availble in certain region of Russia. Technology and software companies may also benefit from some concesions

Other Corporate Taxes

- Unified social tax: paid on all payments made to employees; the rate is progressive.
- Tax on personal property and real estate: the maximum rate is 2.2%; property ownership is exempt.

For additional information access the 2009 Danske Bank guide on Doing Business in Russia.

Country Comparison For Corporate Taxation

	Russia	Eastern Europe & Central Asia	United States	Germany
Number of Payments of Taxes per Year	11.0	41.7	11.0	16.0
Time Taken For Administrative Formalities (Hours)	320.0	313.9	187.0	215.0
Total Share of Taxes (% of Profit)	46.5	41.2	46.8	48.2

Source: Doing Business - Last Available Data.

Individual Taxes

Tax Base For Residents and Non-Residents: An individual who spends at least 183 days in Russia is considered as a resident.
For a Russian resident, the tax base is all income paid in Russia and abroad.
For a foreign resident, only income paid in Russia is taxable.

Tax Rate

Flat tax rate for residents	13%
Tax for non-residents	30%

Allowable Deductions and Tax Credit: The following expenses can be deducted:
- donations to recognized institutions (up to 25% of income)
- expenses relating to the education of a family member (up to a certain limit)
- for a dependent member of the family (up to a certain limit)
- contributions to a supplementary retirement scheme (up to an annual limit)
- medical expenses (up to 28 000 roubles)
- the purchase of real estate (deductions up to 1 million roubles a year)

The following income is exempt from tax: sale of living accommodation or another good owned for more than 3 years, interest earned on deposits made to Russian banks under certain conditions, grants, retirement pensions or disability benefit.
Special Expatriate Tax Regime: There is no special regime for expatriates.
Capital Tax Rate: Tax on personal property and real estate: the maximum rate for individuals is 1.5% (2.2% for companies); property ownership is exempt.

Double Taxation Treaties

Countries With Whom a Double Taxation Treaty Have Been Signed: List of treaties signed by Russia with links to texts

Withholding Taxes: Dividends: 9% (15% if paid to foreign entity or non-resident); Interest: 20% to nonresidents, Royalties: 20%. These rates may be lower in the case of a tax treaty with Russia.

Sources of Fiscal Information

Tax Authorities: Russian federal tax service, (in Russian).
Ministry of Finance
Other Domestic Resources: Federal tax service (in Russian)
Center for deduction of R&D expenses (in Russian)
RosBusinessConsulting in English
Country Guides: Worldwide-Tax
Deloitte 2010 Doing Business in Russia Guide
Emerging Market Group
International Tax Review on Russia

Learn more about Service Providers in Russia on Globaltrade.net, the Directory for International Trade Service Providers.

Accounting Rules

Accounting System

Accounting Standards: In Russia, accountancy is mainly interpreted as the rules defining the way of keeping accounts books.
It is governed by the Russian accounting standards (RAS in English), which are different from international standards.
Accounting Regulation Bodies: Ministry of Finance
Russian Central Bank
Accounting Law: Accountancy is defined in Russia by the State rather than by professional organizations.
The Russian accounting framework is defined at three levels:
- The Law on Accounting, the civil code and other laws;
- The Russian Accounting Standards (RAS) defined by the Ministry of Finance and the Chart of Accounts ;
- The accounting standards governing the banking and finance sectors developed by the Central Bank.
Difference Between National and International Standards (IAS/IFRS): The Russian accounting procedures are continuing their convergence with the IFRS standards but there are still notable differences between RAS and IFRS standards.

Accounting News: EIN News
IAS Plus

Accounting Practices

Tax Year: From 1 January to 31 December.
Accounting Reports: Company annual accounts must be composed of:
- a balance sheet,
- a profit and loss account,
- notes.
Small companies can produce simplified accounts.
Publication Requirements: Only certin companies (insurance or joint-stock companies) are requested to publish their accounts (with an audit).

Accountancy Profession

Accountants: The term accountant is generally applied to those working inside the company. Outside contributors are called auditors.
Due to the importance of the State in the accounting system, accountants' associations are having difficulty getting organized. At the present time, they are trying to federate under the aegis of the Eurasian Council of Certified Accountants and Auditors (ECCAA) to organize a certification program.
Professional Accountancy Bodies: Russian institute of professional accountants
International association of accountants and auditors
CIPA, International certification program for professional accountants.
Member of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC): Russia is a member of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC).

Member of Other Federation of Accountants: Member of the European Accounting Association.
Audit Bodies: Only certain companies have to seek a statutory auditor to conduct an annual audit of the financial health of their organization. You can contact the Russian College of auditors.

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Learn more about Taxes and Accounting in Russia on Globaltrade.net, the Directory for International Trade Service Providers.