Russia has passed a bill exempting cryptocurrency issuers from Value Added Tax (VAT). This move is to further strengthen its pro-crypto stance through its legislation. The lower house of the Russian legislature, the State Duma, passed this bill.
Allegedly, some other services related to cryptocurrency exchanges will also be exempt. The current tax rate for cryptocurrency companies participating in these digital asset related businesses is 20%. Continued sanction from the West wreaked havoc in Russia following the invasion of Ukraine.
Russia has been experiencing a financial crisis and this, in turn, has made it difficult for Russia to carry out international transactions. To boost its economy, Russia has taken a positive stance towards cryptocurrencies to facilitate the growth of the sector.
Crypto VAT exemption details
In addition to the VAT exemption, this bill that has passed states that the income tax rate will be 13% for cryptocurrency exchanges on the first 5 million rubles, currently valued at $93,000 tax base annually, 15% at values that cross the aforementioned level and 15% in general for currency traders.
However, the Central Bank of Russia is on the opposite side of cryptocurrencies, as are other central banks around the world. Despite opposition to cryptocurrencies, the state authorized the first local digital asset platform, Atomyze Russia. After licensing Atomyze Russia, the main lender Sberbank received a license.
Members of the State Duma approved the drafting of the tax law. The bill aims to reduce taxes for cryptocurrency issuers and also helps set tax rates on income received from the sale of the assets. Now, for this bill to become law, the signature of President Vladimir Putin is required.
Once the bill is passed, the details of how digital assets will be managed will be defined. Taxation of digital assets under the bill is analogous to securities taxes at the current time, once the bill is passed some light will be shed on such a position.
Russian banks blocked from the SWIFT system
Russia’s banks have been blocked from the SWIFT system and the G7 Group of Seven countries have recently stopped buying freshly mined and refined Russian gold. This added more pressure on Russia’s financial situation.
In addition, there are other sanctions that have led Russia to default on servicing its external debt. Anti-crypto leaders in the US have the idea that Russia might turn to cryptocurrencies to avoid sanctions, so they insist on a crackdown.
Russia for the first time since 1917 defaulted on its foreign debt. The year 1917 is historic, because in that year the Bolshevik Revolution took place. Russia was given a 30-day grace period but paid no interest on two different bonds.