The level of the tax burden in Russia exceeded 36% of GDP – Business portal INVESTOR

The level of the tax burden in Russia in 2014 (according to the IMF) has exceeded 36% of GDP. This is higher than in the countries of the BRICS countries and the Eurasian Union, but lower than in the EU.

Such data are announced, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov at the parliamentary hearings in the State Duma. He stressed that the reduction of the tax burden is not feasible without a decision on costs.

“The question of a lower tax burden – it’s a matter of choice. If we want to have lower taxes, even on the level of commitment should go to lower levels. This, for example, means that a pension age we should be at least no lower than in Kazakhstan, where it is already three years exceeds the Russian level. I’m not talking about such extreme examples as China, where there is practically no pension provision in rural areas ” – said Anton Siluanov.

So, the BRICS countries, including China, on defense spending around 2% of GDP, Kazakhstan – 1% of GDP, and Russia – 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.