MOSCOW, December 16 (RIA Novosti) - The Russian budget lost more than $275 million in unpaid taxes on energy exports in 2004, the Audit Chamber announced in a news release Friday following an official meeting.
The chamber reviewed the results of audits of customs payments and other taxes on the transit of goods in and out of Russia during 2005 and the first 11 months of 2005 in the South Customs Department. The checks were carried out during October and November 2005.
By understating the cost of gas and sulphur at export, exporters reduced customs payments by more than $11.5 million and also reduced profit tax payments.
Checks on deliveries of sulphur, gas, coal, oil and oil products showed that, taking into account the situation on the world market, Russia could have received an additional $275 million from their sale during 2004.
