Tax debt in Russia down 8% since start of year - Mishustin
MOSCOW. Oct 24 (Interfax) - Tax debt has, since this year began, dropped by 103 billion rubles, or by 8%, head of Russia's Federal Tax Service Mikhail Mishustin said during a working meeting with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin dealing with the service's work in January-September.
"I would also like to say a few words about the trends associated with this reduction in debt - they continued. Since the start of the year to the present moment, we have a reduction in debt of 103 billion rubles - that is by roughly 8%," Mishustin said.
The number of taxpayer complaints also decreased, he said. "If we're talking in percentages, then over the nine months [they went] from 44,000 complaints to 40,000, that is, by 10%," Mishustin said. The amount of taxes disputed by taxpayers is also going down, he said.
The number of court cases filed by citizens against the tax service decreased by 10,000, or by 18%. "If the corresponding trends are to continue, we think that the fulfillment of all associated parameters that were built into the budget - macroeconomic indicators, indicative indicators, according to which we work - will be accomplished. As to the administration by the tax service of the corresponding revenues, everything will be effected by a balanced budget," Mishustin said.
The Federal Tax Service announced earlier that aggregate tax debt in Russia stood at 1.220 trillion rubles on August 1, having contracted 4% from the start of the year.
Tax debt had been decreasing until 2009, but during the crisis it expanded considerably, including by 163 billion rubles in 2009. Then, in 2010, the service was able to get it down by 97 billion rubles, or by 7%, so that debt stood at 1.274 trillion rubles, or 2.84% of GDP.