Nearly one in five self-employed individuals, about 17 percent, report challenges with paying professional income tax on time. This insight comes from a survey conducted by Consol.Pro’s Analytical Center, with the findings reviewed by socialbites.ca. The data suggest that timely tax payment remains a hurdle for a notable portion of freelance workers, highlighting how financial discipline interacts with fluctuating income and the administrative demands of self-employment.
According to the same survey, one out of every three self-employed Russians, roughly 33 percent, regularly pays taxes in a timely manner. Yet a significant share admits to diverting funds earmarked for tax payments to other uses, often to cover debt or sudden expenses. Specifically, 26 percent of respondents report using money set aside for the NAP as a rainy-day reserve. In some cases, freelancers divert funds meant for tax transfers to personal needs, with 18 percent spending them on gifts, 13 percent on basic necessities, and 8 percent on food. These patterns underscore the pressure on freelancers to balance tax obligations against everyday financial demands.
About three in ten respondents, or 30 percent, acknowledge periodic financial strain that leads to irregular NAP payments. The primary reason cited for delays is simply a lack of time: 36 percent say they spend so much of their working hours on client projects that they forget to make tax payments. Only a minority, 15 percent, report lacking the information or guidance necessary to complete tax filings or to fill out the required forms correctly. The combination of time pressure and information gaps creates a friction point where timely tax compliance becomes more challenging for many self-employed workers.
To prevent delays and ease financial strain, self-employed individuals express a readiness to shift the burden of NAP payments to clients or to embrace automation. Nearly 40 percent of survey respondents believe that transferring the obligation to pay NAP to the customer would considerably simplify their lives. About 30 percent also want to automate the tax payment process themselves, while a similar share, 29 percent, prefer to maintain direct control over this procedure. This trio of responses points to a growing appetite for process modernization and collaborative payment flows that reduce manual intervention.
As the survey results indicate, self-employed workers often overlook not only their professional income tax responsibilities but also the consequences of late payments. When deadlines are missed, penalties can accrue at a daily rate of 1/300 of the key rate for each day of delay. In the event of a first violation, fines may be 20 percent of the tax amount, and penalties can escalate to 100 percent for repeated violations. It is noteworthy that authorities have recently shown more restraint toward “forgetful” freelancers, but the push for timely payments remains strong. In the near term, solutions aimed at improving punctuality could include connecting tax obligations to dedicated online platforms that automatically deduct taxes from payments, thereby limiting access to funds for self-employed individuals until the taxes are settled. Such an approach is under consideration by both the Ministry of Labor and the Federal Tax Service, signaling a potential shift toward more automated, accountable tax workflows.
Russians who previously operated as self-employed professionals have also reflected on best practices for protecting themselves against work disruptions and unforeseen events that can derail income streams. They emphasize proactive planning, maintaining separate reserves for taxes, and leveraging digital tools that help monitor deadlines and streamline payments. The overarching message is clear: combining disciplined saving, timely reporting, and smart automation can reduce the stress that often accompanies irregular cash flow in freelance work, while still supporting compliance with tax obligations and minimizing penalties.