The Russian parliament has passed a bill raising the country’s income tax and establishing a progressive tax scale ranging from 13 to 22 percent. Lawmakers in both chambers of Russia’s parliament adopted the measure on July 10, sending it to President Vladimir Putin for signing. For more than 20 years, Russia has had a flat 13-percent income tax rate, something that Putin has frequently touted as a major achievement. The tax increase was announced shortly after Putin was elected to a fifth presidential term in March. It comes against the background of the ongoing war against Ukraine and sharp increases in military spending, as well as onerous international sanctions. To read the original story by RFE/RL’s Russian Service, click here.
Russian Lawmakers Pass Major Tax Hike
Russian lawmakers have moved to raise income tax rates for the first time in 20 years amid rising military spending. (file photo)