MOSCOW, September 13 (RIA Novosti) - Russian authorities have decided not to raise personal income tax or value-added tax (VAT) for the time being, Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov said Saturday.
"As for other taxes, such as VAT and personal income tax, the discussion was very tough, and the decision was not to change these taxes. We will try to carry out what we have said and promised by trying as much as possible not to make any changes in the tax system until 2018," said Shuvalov.
The First Deputy Prime Minister pointed out that the Russian government will not raise the personal income tax, however the final decision concerning other taxes are still pending.
The Russian government plans to discuss the opportunity to resolve growth rate by introducing a sales tax at the rate of 3 percent to 5 percent. Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov did not deny the tax could be imposed in 2015 and discussed the possibility of introducing a progressive income tax or increase, as well as increasing VAT (from 18 percent to 20 percent). Russia currently has a personal income tax flat rate of 13 percent.
