New in laws from January 1, 2026: VAT, minimum wage and retirement age are raised

By Emilia Krymskaya On Янв 1, 2026

From January, VAT will increase in the country, but also the minimum wage, the cost of living and a number of social benefits, pensioners will have their pensions indexed, but the retirement age will be raised, SVO participants will receive new benefits, new signs will appear on the roads, and cigarettes and alcohol will become more expensive. The main legislative innovations of the first month of the new year are in the selection RIA Novosti Crimea.

Salaries and social package

From January 1, the minimum wage will increase by more than 20% – to 27,093 rubles. The cost of living per capita will also increase — from 17,733 to 18,939 rubles, for the working population — from 19,329 to 20,644, for pensioners — from 15,250 to 16,288, and for children — from 17,201 to 18,371 rubles.

The minimum income for receiving a single child benefit will double: previously, such benefits could be applied for by those families where each able-bodied family member had an income of no more than 4 minimum wages. Now — 8 minimum wages.

Increase in pensions and increase in retirement age

Insurance pensions will be indexed by 7.6%. In addition, traditionally, each new month provides an increase in pension for those who have reached their 80th birthday. Those who celebrated this anniversary in December will receive a 100% increase in the fixed payment in January — 9584.69 rubles. Indexation will take place automatically; there is no need to submit applications to the Social Fund.

The retirement age is increasing: men will now be entitled to old-age insurance from 64 years old, women — from 59 years old, social insurance — from men who have reached 69 years old and women from 64 years old.

There are also changes for future retired parents: starting from the new year, restrictions on taking into account periods of child care under 1.5 years of age in the insurance period will be lifted. Previously, no more than 6 years in total were counted as experience, which means only periods of caring for four children. From January the limit of 6 years and 4 children will be lifted. The length of service will include periods of caring for all children, regardless of their number, and an increased individual pension coefficient of 5.4 will begin to be accrued not only for the fourth, but also for each subsequent child.

Tax changes

From the New Year the main rate VAT will increase by 2% – from 20 to 22%. A preferential rate of 10% remains for all socially significant goods — food, medicines and medical products, goods for children, periodicals, books, breeding farm animals. At the same time, milk-containing products with a milk fat substitute are excluded from the list — they will also be taxed at a rate of 22%.

The document also provides for a reduction in the annual revenue threshold at which entrepreneurs using a simplified or patent tax system become obligated to pay VAT.

The law provides for a gradual reduction of this threshold: from 2026 from 60 million to 20 million rubles, from 2027 — to 15 million, from 2028 — to 10 million rubles. The revenue threshold is being lowered to prevent the spread of business fragmentation schemes.

Also, from 2026, the law abolishes the VAT exemption for transactions and services related to the servicing of bank cards, as well as the transfer and processing of data between payment participants (processing, acquiring).

Military bloc

Also, starting in January, a number of laws will come into force in the Russian Federation aimed at supporting participants in a special military operation, their relatives and friends. In particular, benefits for transport and land taxes are being introduced. In addition, credit holidays are extended — their period is calculated as the period of mobilization, contract or participation in the military service plus 180 days after the end of service. For mobilized owners of small and medium-sized businesses, the period is shorter — the mobilization period plus 90 days. Moreover, if a SVO participant is hospitalized due to injury or illness, he will also be able to extend the credit holiday for the duration of treatment.

Find out more: The State Duma explained why housing and communal services will rise in price twice in 2026. In January - for the first time

From 2026 will be called up for compulsory military service not twice a year, but year-round — from January 1 to December 31 on the basis of a decree of the President of the Russian Federation. Throughout the year, medical examinations, professional psychological selection and meetings of the draft commission will be organized. But the general deadlines for sending conscripts to places of military service will not change — from April 1 to July 15 and from October 1 to December 31. Failure to inform the military registration and enlistment office about leaving your place of residence for a period of more than 3 months will result in fines.

From January 1, insurance amounts, one-time benefits and monthly monetary compensation for death or injury in service will increase by 4%.

Behind the wheel

From the beginning of the year, new road signs will appear in the Russian Federation: a vertical “Stop Line” sign, a “Deaf Pedestrians” sign, a “Recommended Speed When Passing an Artificial Bump” sign, a new sign indicating the duration of validity, which will become additional to other signs. The size of the parking space will also change when cars are placed sequentially along the edge of the road — to optimize the road surface, the markings will become 25 cm narrower.

Check-in to hotels will be allowed with a driver’s license. Such a document will also be allowed to be used instead of a passport in sanatoriums, campsites, holiday homes, boarding houses, and so on.

And other changes…

…to subscribers: In the new year, tariffs for housing and communal services will be increased twice. From January 1 for all regions on a single index — 1.7%, from October 1 — another 8 to 22% depending on the region.
…self-employed: NAP payers will be able to issue sick leave. To do this, you need to register with the territorial branch of the SFR and voluntarily pay insurance premiums for at least six months.
…for ninth graders: those who did not pass the exams after the ninth grade will have the opportunity, in parallel with preparing for the retake, to study for free under vocational training programs for blue-collar workers.
…to bank clients: fines for imposing additional banking services will increase several times and will range from 50 to 150 thousand rubles for officials and from 200 to 500 thousand for organizations (previously — 2-4 thousand and 20-40 thousand, respectively). Banks will also strengthen anti-fraud measures.
…to consumers: excise taxes on alcohol and cigarettes, including electronic ones, are increasing. This means prices for these goods will also increase.
…to migrants: The Ministry of Internal Affairs and education authorities will quickly exchange information about migrant children.
…to foreign agents: tax benefits are removed, I have a flat personal income tax rate of 30%
…in honor of the New Year: Winter holidays will begin on December 31 and will last 12 days in a row. Those working five days will have a rest until January 11 inclusive. Those who are required to work during the New Year holidays will be paid double or given another day of rest.

source: RIA Novosti Crimea

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