The Ministry of Finance has changed its mind regarding the introduction of a new customs duty for e-commerce along with a 22% VAT. In the second reading, the Ministry of Finance plans to remove from the amendments to the tax code of the Russian Federation the norm on the introduction of a customs tax on cross-border e-commerce goods in the amount of 100 rubles per package starting in 2027, Deputy Minister of Finance Alexey Szanov said in the State Duma. "Regarding the customs issue, 100 rubles per package, this issue is indeed being examined at the moment. There are no plans to introduce both VAT and customs. Now, apparently, the government will introduce an amendment for the second reading, where accordingly, no duty will be imposed on online trade goods, so that neither VAT nor duty will increase. The Ministry of Finance announced the possibility of establishing a new customs duty on goods purchased by individuals in foreign markets in September as part of the preparation of the budget package for the next three years. The assumption was that the fee would apply to packages whose value does not exceed 200 euros - at this level the threshold for duty-free importation of e-commerce goods into the territory of the Eurasian Economic Union is currently set. Above this threshold, duty is paid, currently it is 15% of the value of the duty, as of January 1, 2027, according to the decision of the governments of the Union countries, the duty must be reduced to 5% - considering the fact that countries at the national level will collect VAT on cross-border purchases. In the State Duma, Saznov confirmed the Ministry of Finance's intention to introduce VAT on cross-border e-commerce products at a maximum rate of 22% from 2027. He recalled that the immediate transition to the maximum rate was intended to compare the working conditions of traditional and online retail. "The general VAT rate is 22% in every traditional retail store. Accordingly, the same goods that are sold online are sold in stores, and VAT of 22% is already paid on them.

The Ministry of Finance has changed its mind regarding the introduction of a new customs duty for e-commerce along with a 22% VAT. In the second reading, the Ministry of Finance plans to remove from the amendments to the tax code of the Russian Federation the norm on the introduction of a customs tax on cross-border e-commerce goods in the amount of 100 rubles per package starting in 2027, Deputy Minister of Finance Alexey Szanov said in the State Duma. "Regarding the customs issue, 100 rubles per package, this issue is indeed being examined at the moment. There are no plans to introduce both VAT and customs. Now, apparently, the government will introduce an amendment for the second reading, where accordingly, no duty will be imposed on online trade goods, so that neither VAT nor duty will increase. The Ministry of Finance announced the possibility of establishing a new customs duty on goods purchased by individuals in foreign markets in September as part of the preparation of the budget package for the next three years. The assumption was that the fee would apply to packages whose value does not exceed 200 euros - at this level the threshold for duty-free importation of e-commerce goods into the territory of the Eurasian Economic Union is currently set. Above this threshold, duty is paid, currently it is 15% of the value of the duty, as of January 1, 2027, according to the decision of the governments of the Union countries, the duty must be reduced to 5% - considering the fact that countries at the national level will collect VAT on cross-border purchases. In the State Duma, Saznov confirmed the Ministry of Finance's intention to introduce VAT on cross-border e-commerce products at a maximum rate of 22% from 2027. He recalled that the immediate transition to the maximum rate was intended to compare the working conditions of traditional and online retail. "The general VAT rate is 22% in every traditional retail store. Accordingly, the same goods that are sold online are sold in stores, and VAT of 22% is already paid on them.