Business · Trade · 6 hrs ago
Russia plans 22% VAT on foreign online purchases, drops 100-ruble fee
Russia plans a 22% VAT on foreign online purchases from 2027, while dropping a proposed 100-ruble fee for each parcel.
The change concerns goods ordered from abroad, including items sold by foreign sellers on Russian marketplaces.
The fee had been proposed for parcels worth less than €200, and officials say they do not plan to charge both payments.
The VAT is intended to apply to all foreign goods from the start of 2027, rather than rising gradually over several years.
Russian online platforms are expected to act as tax agents and handle the VAT.
Buyers may face higher prices, although sellers could absorb some of the tax; experts say it may not erase price differences with Russian sellers.
The government plans to remove the fee in the bill’s second reading, while the details of how the tax will be administered remain important.
Russia plans to apply a 22% VAT to goods ordered from abroad, while dropping a proposed 100-ruble fee for each parcel.
The government says it does not plan to charge both VAT and the customs fee.
The fee proposal would have covered foreign parcels worth less than €200.
The changes are expected to take effect in 2027, with Russian online platforms serving as tax agents, according to one report.
Experts say VAT may raise costs for buyers but may not eliminate price differences between Russian and foreign sellers.
- Who
- The Russian government plans the change; Russian online platforms are expected to act as tax agents.
- What
- It plans a 22% VAT on goods ordered from abroad and to drop the proposed 100-ruble parcel fee.
- When
- The change is planned for 2027; the fee proposal is to be removed before the bill’s second reading.
- Where
- Russia.
- Why
- Officials say they do not plan to impose both VAT and the customs fee. The fee is being dropped to avoid overlapping charges.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Authorities proposed extending the 100-ruble fee to foreign purchases.
The State Duma adopted the 2027 federal budget bill in its first reading, and Deputy Finance Minister Alexey Sazanov said the government was considering dropping the fee.
Reports said the government planned a 22% VAT on foreign purchases instead of both charges.
The 22% VAT on foreign goods is planned to take effect.
- Planned VAT rate
- 22%
- Proposed parcel fee
- 100 rubles per parcel
- Fee proposal threshold
- Foreign parcels worth less than €200
- Planned start
- 2027
- Tax agents
- Russian online platforms
- Cross-border trade, January–September 2026
- 320 billion rubles
4 sources
What people are saying
Вводить и НДС, и таможенный сбор не планируется.
Не стоит ждать, что иностранные товары прям подорожают ровно на эти 22%, как бы сиюминутно в один день.
Даже 22% не всегда позволят выровнять конечную фиксированную цену.