Medvedev says Russia not to increase tax burden until 2018

MOSCOW, Mar 28 (PRIME) -- The Russian government does not plan to increase the tax burden in the country until 2018, even though such proposals are done, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said Monday at a forum.

“Although that we understand the current difficult situation in the economy, a political decision was made…that no decisions to increase the tax burden will be made until 2018 in the framework of the powers the president now has under the constitution. Though calls to do that are constantly voiced,” he said.

“We think that we are able to get by without changes of the taxation system. First, we still have reserves in the existing taxation system, we can find effective forms of budget relations. Second, it is very important that the tax system is stable,” he said.

He said that the government may make decisions to amend the taxation system after the crisis is over.

Russian deputies have also suggested the government change the scale of the income tax for individuals. “This is also a very difficult issue, and it prompts very different kinds of reactions,” Medvedev said.

End