Russian Revenue Service and Investigative Committee unite against business?

20.06.2014

The meeting between the President of Russian Federation and the Head of Russian Revenue Service, M. Mishustin, was held on the 20^th of June, 2014. Mishustin told President about the work done in order to improve Service’s efficiency and to increase income from taxes into the federal budget.

Special attention was given to the cooperation between FNS and Investigative Committee. In the framework of cooperation between FNS and SK RF was created the bill of federal law № 357559-6 “On the Repeal of Certain Provisions of Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation”, that regulates the order of excitation of criminal cases in the field of taxation.

The bill is giving the right to start criminal proceedings in the field of taxation not only to the revenue authorities, but also to law enforcement bodies. Therefore, if the bill will become into force, the law enforcement bodies shall only inform the Revenue Service about the criminal charges against the taxpayer. FNS, in its turn, will perform the checkup. But if the results of the checkup will be submitted to the law enforcement body, it does not mean that the criminal charges will be automatically dropped.

Source: http://www.nalog.ru/rn77/news/activities_fts/4712452/

Expert’s opinion

If these amendments will be made, than there will be more mechanisms to affect business. SK starts criminal proceedings, entrepreneur admits his guilt and pays taxes, and Revenue Service realizing that he is ready to pay comes to check on him…
It is surprising that we see in our co-citizens only enemies, who do not want to pay taxes to their homeland. Somehow all laws are there for tightening, strengthening and distrust. As soon as there will be the actual ease, actual desire of the state for the growth of small and medium businesses? The income from taxes to the budget will grow and by itself…

Irina Lomakina ( Director of Moscow Office of Honest & Bright)