The Russian government may submit a draft law on a wealth tax to parliament in 2013, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.
"Of course, a wealth tax is quite reasonable and necessary," Putin said during his Q&A session with the nation, adding that a property register was needed to levy the tax.
"Corresponding agencies should prepare this register during next year and in 2013 we’ll submit a tax on hyper-consumption and wealth to the State Duma (the lower house of parliament)," Putin said.
At the same time, Putin said that the Russian authorities did not intend to change the flat 13-percent income tax on individuals as tax collection under its differentiated rate in the past was poor.
Putin also said he was against the annulment of the results of privatization in the early 1990s when major state assets were sold for a song during loans-for-shares auctions.
