TASS. The Kremlin has not yet determined its position about a potential hike of the personal income tax or other taxes, the decision will be made after the issue is reviewed by experts, presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov told journalists.
"So far, the position has not been defined," Peskov answered to a TASS question, adding the issue is under review of experts, various points of view are expressed, diverse versions are under calculation. After the experts accomplish their efforts, the position will be formed, he said.
Business daily Vedomosti wrote on Wednesday, quoting unnamed federal officials and experts who take part in discussions, that the Finance Ministry, the Ministry of Economic Development and Alexey Kudrin's Center for Strategic Research talked about different options of a tax maneuver. According to the newspaper, economists subscribed to the opinion that it is necessary to tighten tax burden. In particular, the personal income tax rate could be raised, but remain unified.
In his address to the Federal Assembly, Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed last December to look at fiscal-system adjustments in detail and thoroughly during the year. According to the leader, it will be necessary to compile and adopt in 2018 all relevant amendments to legislation, the Tax Code, and to put them into effect starting January 1, 2019, thereby setting in stone new stable rules for a long-term period.
