21 Nov 2011 11:48

Tax burden in Russia is not low, comes to around 40% - Dvorkovich

MOSCOW. Nov 21 (Interfax) - Russian Presidential Advisor Arkady Dvorkovich does not think the tax burden in Russia in low.

"We have tax rates. The tax burden isn't low," he said while speaking at a conference in Moscow organized by Russia's Federal Tax Service.

"I disagree with the figures that have been cited [by Acting Finance Minister Anton Siluanov]. Firstly, 31%-32% we might call contributions, customs duties, other payments, everything that companies and citizens pay into the budget. All of this, essentially, is the tax burden, especially when you bear in mind that insurance payments here are not entirely for insurance. The real tax burden here is close to 40%. And 40% isn't a low figure," Dvorkovich said.