UPDATE: Russian Fin Ministry sees some tax changes possible 2018

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MOSCOW/MAGAS, Oct 21 (PRIME) -- The Russian taxation system will remain intact on the whole in 2017–2019 but some tax parameters may be changed in 2018, the Finance Ministry said in a document seen by PRIME on Friday, while Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev confirmed that there are discussions of a new tax on people who are not officially employed.

“It is assumed that, as declared earlier, the general contours of the taxation system that has been formed by now will remain unchanged in the planned period but taking into account the current economic situation and the state of the budget, the tax initiatives planned for 2017–2019, as well as some other parameters of the taxation system (including the payroll tax for obligatory social protection) can be adjusted in 2018 while working on the taxation policy for 2019 and future years.”

The comment appeared in an amended version of the document published on Friday.

The ministry said that sustainable development of the economy and prevention of worsening of the life quality were the key goals of the tax policy work.

Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said later on Friday that the authorities will consider introduction of social payments for people who use the social protection infrastructure but do not have an official employment and pay no taxes on their earnings.

“The only thing I want you and the people who will analyze this issue to pay your attention to. This is no “social parasitism tax”, it is better not to call it that way. It is an involvement into the system of payments for social services of those who are not registered and those who do not participate in the replenishment of correspondent funds but use social services at the same time,” he said.

The ministry said in the document that self-employed people who do not have a status of entrepreneurs, such as babysitters, tutors and nurses, will be exempt from an obligation to make social payments until the end of 2018 and will not bear responsibility for the illegal business.

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