New laws in 2024 and 2025 are set to touch families and students alike, with school phone use rules tightening and compulsory study programs introduced to prepare youngsters for adult life.
The law does not ban bringing phones to school or storing devices in backpacks or lockers. Instead, the focus is on classroom rules designed to raise the quality of education. It remains unclear who will police phone usage on school premises, but the intent is clear: better learning outcomes. By September 1, 2024, students will begin to learn practical skills in primary school, aimed at equipping them for later responsibilities without stifling curiosity. [Source: Legislative Update]
For working adults, earnings are expected to improve. The minimum wage is slated to rise, reflecting a broader push to boost living standards.
Officials announced that the minimum wage would increase from 16,242 to 19,242 rubles, with regional authorities able to raise it further. In Yakutia, for example, the threshold could reach 48,105 rubles. Beginning February 1, 2024, maternity capital will grow by 7.5 percent, increasing the payment for the first child to 631 thousand rubles and the second to 834 thousand rubles. There is also a provision to continue child care payments if a parent returns to work before the child reaches one and a half years old. [Source: Family and Labor Policy]
Tax policy will also see changes. Starting January 1, social tax deductions for education and medical expenses will be raised from 120 thousand to 150 thousand rubles. The changes are outlined in Article 219 of the Tax Code. At the same time, the deduction for each child’s education remains capped at 50 thousand rubles for the overall parental total before January 1 and will rise to 110 thousand rubles after January 1. [Source: Tax Code Update]
A shift to a single tax account (UTA) will finalize in 2024, simplifying how taxes and contributions are accounted for across the board.
Additionally, the corporate tax payment process has been streamlined. Legal entities will no longer need to notify the tax authority about the calculated tax amount for the ended tax period when the data is already included in the tax return. This includes tax on all real estate objects assessed by average annual value and real estate owned by foreign organizations assessed by cadastral value. [Source: Tax Reform Summary]
From July 1, 2024, a new social-support measure will remove bank fees for paying housing and utilities. This is aimed at easing household expenses for many families.
However, not all news is favorable for apartment developers. A return of value-added tax (VAT) reclaim is possible starting January 1 in cases where flats are built and sold under joint construction agreements. This rule, repealed in 2010, has reappeared and could influence final apartment costs, nudging buyers toward properties with formal residential status. [Source: Real Estate Policy Brief]
Rosreestr will switch to electronic registration for real estate transactions with legal entities beginning January 1, streamlining document handling for developers. For individuals, the change is milder, mostly involving easier submission: contracts can be scanned for registration, and some object-related documents will no longer be required. [Source: Real Estate Administration]
Earlier, Russia adjusted rules for transporting children on airplanes, marking another wave of regulatory updates as the year progressed. [Source: Aviation Regulation Update]