Alexander Kalinin, who leads Opora Rossii, a public organization advocating for small and medium-sized enterprises, submitted a formal letter to Finance Minister Anton Siluanov outlining a package of initiatives. The proposals aim to lift thresholds, simplify the tax landscape, and introduce zero VAT for industries that rely heavily on human labor, a move designed to boost SME vitality and competitiveness across the Russian economy.
The central topic centers on the USN, with Opora Rossii calling for an adjustment to the threshold for balance sheet funds. Specifically, the organization proposes raising the threshold from 150 million rubles to 250 million rubles. Alongside this, there is a push to reset VAT for sectors that depend substantially on workforce size, a measure intended to reduce administrative burdens for businesses that hire significantly and to encourage job creation. The objective is to align tax policy with real business dynamics, helping small and medium-sized firms manage expenses more predictably while supporting growth and resilience in challenging market conditions.
Kalinin noted that Finance Minister Siluanov expressed openness to several merger-oriented proposals, signaling room for policy dialogue and potential future reforms. The exchange highlights a shared interest in streamlining regulatory frameworks and fostering a more favorable environment for SMEs, which act as a key driver of economic diversification and regional development. The discussion reflects a broader push toward tax simplification and smarter incentive structures that reward employment and productive investment, rather than simply penalizing business scale.
In related updates from the press service of the regional guarantee network, it was reported that small and medium-sized business owners benefited from substantial financial support last year. More than 292 billion rubles were extended in loans backed by guarantees from regional guarantee organizations, illustrating the critical role of credit guarantee schemes in easing access to capital for SMEs. This level of funding demonstrates how guarantee mechanisms can lower financing costs, reduce risk for lenders, and accelerate the pace at which SMEs can scale operations, invest in equipment, technology, and human capital, and navigate periods of volatility. The coverage across various regions underscores the breadth of impact and the potential for further expansion of guarantee-backed lending as a cornerstone of SME policy and economic resilience, as cited in regional guarantee network communications and official briefings.