Tax Policy of the Russian Federation

The tax policy of the Russian Federation is an element of financial policy. It includes organizational economic measures and legal norms that have a regulatory character. These norms and measures are adopted and implemented by state authorities (at the regional and federal level), as well as bodies of territorial government.

The tax policy pursues several goals. Among them it is necessary to note:

1. Ensuring a full-fledged formation of the budgetary structure of the state. These incomes are necessary for financing the bodies of state power and territorial self-government, which exercise the appropriate powers and functions.
2. Ensuring social justice in the process of taxation of profits of individuals.
3. Promotion of sustainable economic development of priority activities and small businesses and individual areas.

The tax policy of the Russian Federation is formed and implemented at the regional, local and federal levels within the framework of the relevant competence. At the regional level, the structure of the regulatory impact is applicable to payments legally assigned to the subjects of the state, or within the established rates for revenue sources of a regulatory nature.

The tax policy of 2012 was focused on supporting innovative enterprises, mainly in terms of paying insurance contributions to non-budgetary funds . It was proposed to introduce a special period during which the transition to a 34% rate by these enterprises would be made, and clear criteria for their identification would be developed. For the category considered, the rate was expected to remain at the level of 14% for a certain period. However, by 2020, innovative enterprises should reach the generally accepted rate of 34%. For the rest of the taxpayers, the rate was raised not to 34%, but to 32%. This figure was obtained due to a 2% reduction in payments for compulsory health insurance.

As measures of innovative support, it was proposed to complete the reform of the system for calculating tax depreciation. It was suggested that the corresponding groups should be formed in accordance with the functional feature, rather than at facilities, with a reduction in depreciation terms for certain types of fixed assets. This, in turn, should create incentives for technological renewal.

The tax policy of the Russian Federation provided for a reduction in the list of documents that are necessary when confirming the legality of using zero VAT rate in relation to exports. In the future, within three years, energy-efficient equipment will be exempted from taxing property. In addition, the launch of a project on tax administration of innovative enterprises is envisaged.

The tax policy of the Russian Federation at the current stage provides for special benefits for companies whose activities are related to science, education, health (both commercial and non-commercial), up to the adoption of a zero rate in relation to income tax. In the area of deductions for profit, it is planned to consider restrictions on accepting losses from reorganized enterprises when mergers of organizations. It is envisaged that new regulations will be adopted to assign interest related to debt obligations to expenditures, as well as to prevent undercapitalization. In the sphere of excise taxes, it is intended to index excise rates of tobacco products, as well as to introduce advances on deductions for alcoholic beverages.

The application of real estate tax is considered as a strategic goal. The draft also introduces changes to the simplified taxation system.