RS Law digest Main changes in the Law of the Russian Federation from April 19, 2012 to July 13, 2012

Main changes in the Law of the Russian Federation from April 19, 2012 to July 13, 2012

September 2012

Number of invitations issued to foreign nationals rise

airport
Fotobank www.lori.ru

Decree No 257n of the Ministry of Health and Social Development of Russia of 26.03.2012

The number of invitations issued to foreign nationals for entry into the Russian Federation on job visas has grown from 34,003 to 36,427 in 2012 in Moscow.

The total number of issued invitations has increased in the following federal districts:

Central Federal District - from 67,428 to 70,718;

Southern Federal District - from 23,178 to 33682;

Volga Federal District – from 34,577 to 34,875;

Ural Federal District - from 37,678 to 37,801;

Siberian Federal District - from 48,786 to 49,351;

Far-Eastern Federal District - from 70,443 to 71,497.

The number of invitations issued in the North-Western and the North-Caucasian Federal Districts remained unchanged.

Privileged regime for fixed assets with high energy efficiency

Decree No 308 of the Russian Government of 16.04.2012

Starting from 01.01.2012 taxpayers are exempt from the obligation to pay the corporate property tax in respect of items of fixed assets with high energy efficiency (put into operations after 01.01.2012).

The list of items to which the privileged tax regime was approved by Decree No 308 of the Russian Government of 16.04.2012.

The list of documents required for submission by international carriers

bus
Fotobank www.lori.ru

Decree No 505 of the Russian Government of 24.05.2012

The list of documents to be submitted by a carrier to a transport control authority wishing to be authorised to conduct international automobile transportation has been amended. A carrier now additionally has to present copies of documents confirming ownership or other legitimate grounds for intended use of means of transport, as well as their state registration, a Third Party Only insurance policy and documents confirming professional competence of the executive officer.

The condition of holding a licence for automobile transportation of passengers equipped for transportation of more than 8 people for a Russian carrier to be authorised to conduct international automobile transportations was removed.

Fatal accidents mean no discount granted to the employer

Decree No 524 of the Russian Government of 30.05.2012

Insurance premiums to the Russian Social Insurance Fund are paid based on the insurance rate adjusted with consideration of the discount or premium amount established by the fund.

Under the approved Regulations on Introduction of Discounts and Premiums on Insurance Premiums consideration of any cases on application of a discount an employer shall submit a relevant application to the fund no later than on July 1, 2012. The discount is to take effect on January 1, 2012.

In 2012 discounts and premium are calculated based on the indices established on the basis of the employer’s business performance over the years 2008 - 2010.

Under the provisions of Decree No 524 of the Russian Government of 30.05.2012, the employer shall be granted no discount on the insurance rate in 2012 if the organisation had sustained fatal accidents in 2010.

Alienation of subsurface resources, including their lease, is now prohibited

Federal Law No 61-FZ of 05.06.2012

Amendments prohibiting alienation of subsurface resources, including their lease, were introduced into Federal Law No 122-FZ On State Registration of Rights to Real Estate and Transactions Therewith of 21.07.1997.

Collected without recourse to court

Decree No 543 of the Russian Government of 01.06.2012

The list of documents under which debts are collected without recourse to court on the basis of notarial orders includes documents pertaining to loan, custodial services and lease agreements. Documents required for collection of debts without recourse to court on the basis of notarial orders include:

- for loan agreements (pawn broker tickets) – loan agreement (pawn broker ticket);

- for custodial services agreements - custodial services agreement, registered custodial receipt;

- for lease agreements – lease agreement, document confirming transfer of assets by the lessor to the lessee, as well as a calculation of the lessee’s debt signed by the lessor and containing data on amounts and dates of enforcement to cover the debtor's liabilities under relevant agreements.

Mandatory valuation (confirmation) of conformity is not required

shop
Fotobank www.lori.ru

Resolution No 80 of the Panel of the Eurasian Economic Commission of 13.06.2012

A number of items were removed from the Unified List of Products subject to mandatory valuation (confirmation) of conformity in the framework of the Customs Union regulations, with unified documents issued, namely:

8 – Light Industrial Goods;

9 – Toys and Juvenile Goods;

14 – Container Glassware;

15 – Packaging Means;

18 – Personal Protection Equipment;

23 – Perfumes and Cosmetics.

The requirement of mandatory valuation (confirmation) of conformity, with issuing of unified documents, is, therefore, no longer applicable to these categories of products.

Sale of margarine will be subject to full-rate VAT

Decree No 597 of the Russian Government of 18.06.2012

The list of foodstuffs type code in the All-Russian Product Classifier subject to VAT at a tax rate of 10% had some of its items adjusted.

The amendments are valid in respect of a list of products listed under the sections "Milk and Dairy Products", "Vegetable Oil", "Margarine", "Baby Food and Diabetic Food”. Margarine-based products listed under the codes ОК 005-93 “91 4230 - 91 4234” were removed from this list. RS