Ministry of Finance: Taxes in Russia did not reduce and not increase – BBC Russian

Victor Nehezin Bi-bi-si, Moscow

• June 2, 2015

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Finance Minister Anton Siluanov received by the regulations of 12 minutes to present the State Duma a draft tax policy until 2018 year

Russia’s Finance Ministry proposed a draft “Main directions of tax policy of the government in the years 2016-2018″ during the hearings in the State Duma considered “raw” and aims for revision.

who represented Project Finance Minister Anton Siluanov once again reiterated that he sees the possibility of a fundamental reduction of taxes in Russia – as in this case, the government can not meet its budget obligations.

The speakers at the hearings governors and representatives of business critical document is appreciated and State Duma Speaker Sergei Naryshkin summed up the discussion, calling the project “Main directions of tax policy of” raw and needs some work.

Tax not paradise

Anton Siluanov started his speech in the State Duma with an assurance that in the next years of increasing the tax burden will not be – and so it in Russia than in the countries with developing economies.

“The nature of this document has been defined message of the president, which states clearly that in the coming years, we will not make decisions that may change the conditions for business in the direction of increasing the tax burden, “- he said.

The minister compared the level of taxation in the country with the average of the three international economic organizations – the BRICS countries, the Eurasian Economic Union and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and development.

“The tax burden in Russia is somewhat higher than in the BRICS countries and the Eurasian Economic Union,” – he admitted Siluanov. The following taxes in Russia only in comparison with the average level of the OECD, which includes the countries with developed economies.

Economic Development Minister Sergei Ulyukayev, speaking after Siluanov, said this data: according to him, the tax burden in Russia on average 17% more than the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union, and 22% more than in the BRICS countries.

“In this case we are talking only about the taxes set forth in the tax code – that is, these figures do not kvazinalogovye include payments “- said Ulyukayev.

Minister Siluanov acknowledged that such a situation may indicate a lower competitiveness of the Russian tax system.

saving for retirement

The Minister of Finance estimates the tax burden in Russia 36.6%. However, the reduction of taxes in the current situation is impossible Siluanova Anton.

“The further reduction of the tax burden is not feasible without a decision on costs. China and other BRICS countries spend on defense around 2% of GDP, Kazakhstan – 1% of GDP and we – more than 4% of GDP. Social spending, including health care, we have more than 16% of GDP in Kazakhstan and the BRICS countries, except for Brazil is experiencing another recession, they do not exceed 10% of GDP “, – explained the Minister of Finance.

Siluanov called the tax cut issue of the social contract.

According to him, taxes can be reduced, but then have to cut spending and raise the retirement age.

To raise the retirement age in Russia on the eve offered and Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko in his author’s publication in “Rossiyskaya Gazeta”.

Director of the Institute of Strategic Analysis, Igor Nikolaev strange to hear these proposals because, in his view, is evident from the delayed effect of the measure.

“It does not raise the retirement age so that tomorrow announce the women who turn 55 years old:” I’m sorry, 60 will go. ” Or men – at 65. Lag must be 5-10 years, it should first of all for the young. I think there is clearly reassessment of what our budget could gain from increasing the retirement age. It is only after five years or more it can get really, but money is needed now “, – the economist said in an interview with BBC Russian Service.

Igor Nikolaev doubt that a decision on such a socially sensitive the issue of how to change the retirement age will be taken by the authorities on the eve of two consecutive elections – the State Duma in 2016 and president in 2018.

Anton Siluanov briefly to another topic, the waves of ordinary Russians – a new system of tax calculation property.

“The real estate tax will be done very carefully,” – said Finance Minister vaguely and warned that the tax office had already starts sending, as he put it, “test platezhek”.

On January 1, 2015 came into force a law on the calculation of property tax, based on its cadastral value, close to the market.

“All business is running at a loss”

In general, the hearings in the State Duma on fiscal policy minister until 2018 Siluanova certainly supported only one of the experts – Director of Research Institute for Economic Policy Gaidar, Sergei Drobyshevsky, considering the draft “Guidelines” balanced, well-document .

The rest of the speakers, including the chairman of the Accounting Chamber Tatyana Golikova and the Commissioner for Human businessmen Boris Titov, to a greater or lesser extent criticized the project and insisted on reducing the tax burden.

“All Russian business operates at a loss, “- allowed himself a generalization Boris Titov, the proviso, however, that the tax – just one of several negative factors.

The Economist Igor Nikolayev believes that the issue of reducing the tax burden in any case remain relevant – this is impossible without a way out of the economic crisis.

“When the economy is in crisis, it is necessary to reduce taxes. By the way, in 2008 and 2009, we reduced them, including why the crisis was short-lived. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce taxes, and if reduced, then yes, first need to optimize some cost, “- says Nikolaev.

The economist believes that lower taxes possible in Russia without cutting social programs, and advises the Russian government consider a reduction in defense spending and public administration.