On January 1, 2021, a law on reducing the rate of insurance premiums and income tax for IT companies came into force in Russia. At the same time, the excise tax on tobacco products increased to replenish the budget. In addition, the tax on interest on bank deposits above 1 million rubles and an increase in the personal income tax rate to 15% for citizens who earn more than 5 million rubles a year should bring additional income to the treasury. Tax maneuver in the IT industry On January 1, 2021, a law on tax maneuver in the IT industry came into force in Russia. The document implies a reduction in the rate of insurance premiums for companies in the technology sector from 14 to 7.6% and the income tax rate - from 20 to 3%. The benefit will become permanent. To obtain it, the share in the company's revenue from the sale of services for the development and adaptation of software must be at least 90%. Moreover, the organization must have seven or more employees. Budget balancing For budget balancing, the government has developed a draft tax laws that will ensure the replenishment of the treasury. In particular, from January 1, 2021, the mineral extraction tax (MET) has been increased by 3.5 times for metallurgists and fertilizer producers. In addition, since January 1, the excise tax on tobacco products has been increased by 20%. Now the rate of excise duty on cigarettes is 2359 rubles per 1,000 pieces, and on vapes and electronic cigarettes - 60 rubles per piece. Incomes Also, from January 1, 2021, a law has come into force in Russia to increase the personal income tax (PIT) rate from 13 to 15% for citizens who earn more than 5 million rubles a year. As expected, due to the initiative, the country's budget will receive an additional 193 billion rubles over the next three years. On behalf of Vladimir Putin, the proceeds will be used to treat children with serious illnesses. An increased tax of 15% will be imposed on only that part of the income that exceeds 5 million rubles per year. At the same time, for earnings of 5 million rubles, the rate will remain at the level of 13%. Moreover, the increased tax will not be levied on income from the sale of personal property (with the exception of securities), as well as on insurance payments under insurance and pension contracts. For these incomes, the personal income tax rate will also remain at the level of 13%. Also, from January 1, Russia will tax at a rate of 13% income from deposits and investments in securities in the amount of more than 1 million rubles. At the same time, the tax rate will not be levied on the entire deposit, but on the accrued interest if the income on them exceeds the key rate of the Central Bank. Rewarding innovation The new rates of incentives for authors of an invention, utility model or industrial design are specified in the decree signed by the head of the Russian government, Mikhail Mishustin, which entered into force on January 1, 2021. Employers will pay the inventor up to three average salaries. Previously, innovative designs and solutions were rewarded with a bonus of one salary. This support measure was adopted in 2014, but later was canceled due to the revision of regulatory legal acts within the framework of the so-called "regulatory guillotine". Incentive rules apply when there is no agreement between the employer and the employee. The Cabinet of Ministers believes that the decision will stimulate the development of the intellectual property market. Apple stimulates small business Apple has agreed to reduce the App Store fees for app developers from 30% to 15%. The new rule applies if the volume of sales of iOS apps for a developer does not exceed $ 1 million per year. The program came into force on January 1, 2021. To participate in it, developers will have to submit an application.


Author: Anna Dorozhkina

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