Expert: the laws that came into force in the new year will affect all Russians

The minimum wage will increase the most — by as much as 18.5% — to 19,242 rubles. Thanks to this, more than 4.5 million Russians will have their salaries increased. The minimum wage includes, importantly, a number of benefits (temporary disability, maternity benefits, sick pay, etc.), so they will also be indexed. However, fines are also often counted in the minimum wage. The cost of living will be indexed to the same amount as pensions — by 7.5% (for able-bodied citizens — up to 16,844 rubles). Increasing the minimum wage, which has been set for several years now, as the president ordered, above the poverty level, works to reduce the number of people living below the poverty line. By the end of last year, the number of such people (those with incomes below the poverty level) amounted to about 16 million people, having decreased by 1.2 million over the year (the poverty line was 14.2 thousand rubles).

Maternity capital will be indexed at the same 7.5%. For the first child, the mother will receive 631 thousand rubles, at the birth of the second — already 833.8 thousand. Again, ideally, children should “cost” an equal amount, but here it turns out that the second, after payments for the first, will bring an additional 203 thousand rubles. Firstly, in reality, the second child is often “cheaper” than the first (for example, wears his clothes). Secondly, this amount is still significant; it is important that the state continues to index maternity capital (there was a break in indexation only from 2018 to 2020; last year it was almost 12%). In 2007, the program started with 250 thousand rubles. Since then, at least 13 million Russian families have received certificates, 90% of them have used them fully or partially. However, now maternity capital will be issued only to parents who have Russian citizenship at the time of the child’s birth and whose child received Russian citizenship by birth. The authorities are simultaneously making a concession to anti-immigrant sentiments, but also disincentivizing those who come to Russia “just to give birth for benefits”, with no plans to stay.

Families with children will receive another gift. The right to child care benefits remains for up to one and a half years, even if the parent leaves maternity leave early. Previously, it was only available to those who did not work full time while on maternity leave. The minimum amount of such benefits for non-workers last year was 8,591 rubles, the maximum was 33,281 rubles.

The result of last year’s discussion about the attitude towards “relocants” was the introduction of a single personal income tax rate of 13-15% for those working remotely for Russian structures and organizations in Russia and from abroad, regardless of tax residency. It is logical: after all, these people work for the Russian GDP, but in practice they do not enjoy many social benefits. Most likely, tax collection will increase, since otherwise people would look for workarounds (and, as a rule, they are found); also, previously, many foreign workers did not pay personal income tax at all in the first six months of absence from their homeland.

The size of the tax deduction is increasing for expenses on treatment, education and the purchase of medicines. The maximum amount of expenses for these purposes will increase from 120 to 150 thousand rubles. From 50 to 110 thousand rubles. the amount from which it will be possible to receive a tax deduction for the costs of educating children will increase. Tax deductions in developed countries are an effective method of achieving the desired socio-economic behavior of citizens.

But now you will have to pay tax on interest on bank deposits (until now there was a deferment). To calculate the non-taxable amount of income on deposits for 2023, a key rate of 15% will be taken, therefore, interest income on deposits in the amount of up to 150 thousand rubles will not be subject to taxation. regardless of the number of deposits. The tax rate for non-residents and residents will be the same 13-15%. If there are deposits left in foreign currency, then you will have to pay taxes on them regardless of the rate: income will be recalculated into rubles at the Central Bank exchange rate on the date of payment. Since the average deposit of individuals last year slightly exceeded 300 thousand rubles, the new rule will not affect the vast majority. You will have to pay the tax yourself, but the Federal Tax Service will notify you about this — in the era of digitalization you cannot hide from control.

These major legal changes generally give the impression that, despite the required high level of military and related expenditures, as well as sanctions, the state manages to maintain at least the same level of all major social programs and benefits, without also increasing the level of taxation for people with disabilities. income below average.

source: «Russian newspaper»