Since 2016, the Russian Federation’s Federal Tax Service has maintained an open register listing information about small and medium-sized businesses. Being listed carries practical implications: access to soft loans, participation in business support programs, and fewer routine inspections by supervisory authorities. Yet, if a legal entity fails to submit the required data on the average number of employees and last year’s income on time, it can be removed from the SME register without prior notice. Airat Farrakhov, a member of the State Duma Committee on Budget and Taxes, advocated for informing entrepreneurs before deregistration, as reported by the Parliamentary newspaper.
For the parliamentarian, timely notification about the risk of deregistration matters not only to firms that can swiftly take corrective steps to rejoin the database, but also to the state. The budget stands to gain when taxes are paid on time. Farrakhov emphasized that while the idea has gained traction within state bodies, the federal tax service cautions that carrying it out would require substantial funding and resources.
“If the Federal Tax Service relied on written notice alone, the process would be costly and would incur additional expenses,” the deputy noted. “But I believe a more efficient approach would be to use the personal accounts on public services and electronic mailing lists to reach entrepreneurs directly.”
He added that this method would boost the public services portal’s popularity among business owners, and he pledged to continue collaborating with relevant departments to advance a draft law on the matter.
Meanwhile, former First Deputy Prime Minister Andrey Belousov met with representatives from major Russian banks and federal institutions to discuss key mechanisms aimed at supporting small and medium enterprises. The discussions focused on practical steps to sustain SME activity through access to credit, stable regulatory conditions, and targeted policy measures that help businesses weather economic fluctuations.