Total receivables of the Federal Tax Service surged to 2.37 trillion rubles in 2023
The total amount of money owed to the Federal Tax Service (FTS) has grown significantly, reaching 2.37 trillion rubles. The figure, reported by RBC based on information from the Accounts Chamber, reflects receivables across taxes, duties, insurance premiums, fines, tax penalties, and interest debts. This expansion signals ongoing challenges in revenue collection and highlights the breadth of the FTS’s responsibilities across diverse financial obligations that individuals and businesses owe to the state.
Debt categories include taxes, duties, contributions for social protection, penalties, and any accrued interest. The data emphasizes that unpaid sums accumulate across several categories, creating a comprehensive picture of the government’s outstanding liabilities and the need for effective enforcement and collection strategies to improve compliance and cash flow in the public budget.
Overdue debts rose markedly in 2023, increasing by about 30% year over year to reach 1.325 trillion rubles. This growth followed a period in which the total debt level hovered around 1.3 trillion rubles two years earlier, with overall debt amounts approaching 1.027 trillion rubles. The trend underscores the persistent challenge of timely debt settlement and the impact such delays have on fiscal planning and the ability of the state to fund public programs.
In 2023, the budget benefited from 36.183 trillion rubles in revenues managed by the Federal Tax Service, a rise of approximately 8% from the previous year. This uptick reflects both improved tax administration and evolving economic activity, yet it coexists with a growing pool of unresolved receivables that require ongoing oversight and strategic measures to ensure sustainable revenue collection and budget reliability.
Starting in February 2024, the Federal Tax Service began compiling a monthly list of debtors whose obligations exceed 50 million rubles and distributing this list to its regional divisions. The list includes both individuals and legal entities, as described by the newspaper. This process aims to tighten monitoring, accelerate collection efforts, and provide regional authorities with clearer visibility into higher-value liabilities that drive overall arrears.
Debtors who have settled their obligations either in full or partially, or who have obtained a deferment, will be removed from the list. These measures are designed to sharpen the focus of debt collection and to improve the reported effectiveness of enforcement activities, illustrating the state’s commitment to enforcing compliance while offering pathways for lenders to resolve outstanding balances in a structured manner.