“It's easy to understand the desire of local governments to set the land taxes as high as possible, because the proceeds go to the municipal budget. However, this all too often increases the tax burden on businesses and hampers long-term investment projects. Thus, local governments gain a rouble today to lose dozens or perhaps even hundreds of thousand roubles tomorrow as they rob themselves of potential tax revenues. So I call on our colleagues to be more flexible about land taxation, lower rates to support social projects, small and medium-size business initiatives and innovative industries.”
“Tax policy is one of the most important instruments we have for reaching long-term goals. Today we must finalise our plans in this area for the next year, that is, endorse a tax package designed to encourage innovation in the real economy. It compensates for the rise in tariffs on mandatory social insurance for high-tech companies. As we agreed, during the transitional period we will retain the 14% rate for residents in technology development special economic zones, software manufacturers, and innovation and research companies at higher educational institutions. Reduced rates will also be in place for the media until 2015. It also envisages changes in the rules regarding depreciation, specifies procedures for the calculation of R&D expenditures, a reduction in the number of documents required to prove eligibility for the zero VAT rate on exports and the three year-long exemption of new energy efficient equipment from corporate property tax, and so on”.
“We also have a system of patents for small businesses. The entrepreneurs who purchase patents at fixed prices will be free to do business with a minimal level of accounting standards and other administrative burdens and barriers. This fiscal arrangement is the most convenient for business, and so deserves to be expanded.”
“Last but not least, educational, research, cultural and healthcare non-profit organisations should be exempted from the profit tax, which will give them considerably more leeway to do their jobs. And in future, we may transfer some budget-funded contracts to NGOs. Experience has proved that this measure encourages competition to provide public services and improves such services.”
“We have innovative businesses that even a small increase in taxes could force to cut back on development. We are willing to keep their premiums at 14%, which is practically what they pay now. We should also re-examine the official list of industries eligible for this privilege. On the whole, we should pay the most attention to high-tech industries, with their unique products.”
“Companies switching to new energy-saving equipment will be entitled to more incentives, and may even be exempted from property taxation for three years.”
“The burden on payrolls will increase next year. This will certainly be the most acute problem in the near future. As you know, we have decided to increase mandatory social insurance payments. Otherwise, it would have been impossible to achieve financial stability in the pension system while raising the older generation's living standards at the same time. However, we have put off a tax increase due to the economic crisis. This year premiums will remain frozen at 26%. We must find resources so we can increase the financial burden gradually over the course of next year.”
"In 2010, companies with annual revenues below 60 million roubles will be able to begin using simplified taxation schemes. This is an important policy for the support of small business. But along with that, we must pursue other policies to stimulate entrepreneurship and create more jobs. This remains an issue of high importance for this year".
"In addition, I particularly emphasise that future optimisation of the tax system will remain on the agenda. So, in 2010 the upper income allowance that allows small businesses to move to a simplified system of tax assessment will be increased from 30 to 60 million roubles. Although, as announced earlier, there will be no subsequent indexation. We see this as an anti-crisis measure."
"Strengthening the tax system's incentivising role is as urgent an issue as ever, above all in order to resolve the Russian economy's key problems. This includes increasing the efficiency of natural resource exploitation, introducing energy efficient technology, encouraging innovative solutions in business and supporting companies' modernisation."
