The governor of the Arkhangelsk region, Alexander Tsybulsky, outlined a proposal during a meeting focused on the region’s socio-economic priorities. He suggested removing personal income tax from the structure of the single tax payment system, a move aimed at easing the tax burden and potentially stabilizing the regional budget. The information was reported by TASS in relation to the regional administration. The idea centers on how tax policy can influence budget planning and the flow of funds into local programs and services.
Tsybulsky highlighted the fiscal impact so far, noting that consolidated budget revenues have fallen by about 2.1 billion rubles year over year since 2022. Personal income tax receipts declined by roughly 13.1 percent, and a sizable portion of quarterly income filings occurred near the end of the reporting period. The governor framed these findings as signals that the current tax structure may be limiting the region’s ability to forecast revenue streams and invest in essential needs during the year. The move to remove personal income tax from the single tax payment could, in his view, soften the negative effects of this structure on the region’s revenue filling pattern and support more consistent budgetary planning.
In his remarks, Tsybulsky stressed that employers act as tax agents when paying salaries by withholding taxes from employees’ wages and transferring them to the budget. He argued that this responsibility is a policy mechanism for individuals, not a requirement for employers to retain the withheld amounts beyond the required remittance. The point, he said, is to clarify the role of employers within the tax system and to consider how changes might affect payroll administration and regional funding for public services.
The discussion extended to broader debates about how tax policy can be aligned with defense and security needs. Former State Duma Deputy Oleg Nilov weighed in on the topic, endorsing the concept of a “war tax” to support national defense. Nilov proposed that 2-3 percent of income could be directed specifically to military expenditures, with the funds allocated to meet the needs of the armed forces. This stance reflects ongoing conversations about balancing fiscal policy with strategic priorities and how individuals contribute to national security without overburdening households. The remarks were reported in coverage tied to the broader policy debate on tax changes and defense needs.