Until the end of the year in Russia may start testing the system tax free, allowing foreign tourists to return part of the taxes on purchased items. About it reports “Kommersant” with reference to the minutes of the meeting “On introduction of VAT refund to foreign natural persons” with first Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov.
Under his instruction, the opportunity worked for the Ministry of industry and trade, Ministry of Finance, as well as customs and tax administration, noted in the edition. The initiator of the debate made by the company Bosco di Ciliegi, which was prepared and submitted to the government its proposals, said to “Kommersant” in the press service of the Ministry of industry and trade.
To participate in the pilot project prepared the largest domestic luxury retailers. It can be run in the Moscow Gum, Petrovsky passage, a shopping center “Spring”, TsUMe, “Barvikha Luxury Village”, “Crocus city Mall” and other, from the presentation at the disposal of “Kommersant”. The minimum purchase amount, with which foreign citizens will be able to get the VAT will amount to 10 thousand rubles. According to the newspaper, negotiations are underway with major operators tax free Global Blue and Premier Tax Free (Fintrax).
The publication notes that after the end of the experiment to the tax free system will be able to join the retailers with a turnover of at least 100 million rubles., which do not have debts on payment of taxes and manage commercial properties in cities where there is an international airport. Companies wishing to join the system, will have to undergo special certification in the Ministry of industry and trade.
One of the developers of the project Andrey Silantyev in conversation with “Kommersant” explained that there are two options for implementing the system of VAT refund to foreign citizens — with the participation of the agents compensation and without them. He stressed that the first option is the most common and preferable for the Russian market. It implies that the agents provide support to retailers and residents in the execution of the VAT refunds, but in this case, payments to non-residents will be less than the amount paid their VAT, as the service agent is paid as a percentage of the amount returned in taxes, said Silantyev.
The consulting firm Deloitte calculated that, despite the negative impact of the system on tax free revenues, the increase in the collection of import duties only exceed the losses from the VAT refund faster than five years since the introduction of the system.
