The Russian tax authority will launch checks on 10 million Russians due to bank card transfers
If citizens regularly receive income from services or part-time work via bank cards but have not registered as self-employed individuals or individual entrepreneurs (IP), such transactions may attract the attention of tax authorities. According to expert estimates, around 10 million people could fall under enhanced monitoring.
The affected groups mainly include professionals providing private services: beauticians, repairmen, construction workers, auto service providers, tutors, and landlords renting out properties. If a bank account receives stable monthly inflows exceeding approximately 200,000 rubles without declared income, the tax authorities may initiate an audit.
Self-employed individuals whose annual income exceeds 2.4 million rubles but who have partially evaded formal reporting channels may also be targeted.
The measures are planned to take effect starting in 2027 and are expected to generate an additional revenue of about 50 billion rubles annually for the state treasury.
Personal transfers between individuals—such as gifts, mutual assistance, or loan repayments—if they are one-off and do not constitute regular income, will generally not be subject to scrutiny.
Micro-commentary
Russia's fiscal situation remains tight, prompting the government to dig into informal income streams by bringing previously unreported small-scale services and rental income into the tax net—typical measures to close budget gaps.
Targeting monthly incomes above 200,000 rubles with consistent transaction flows captures substantial hidden earnings while avoiding collateral damage to ordinary people making minor personal transfers—balancing practical enforcement with political risk.
Using big data from bank transaction records for automated screening signifies a significant leap in Russia’s digital tax surveillance capabilities, drastically reducing the room for cash or off-the-books account tax avoidance in society.
Essential livelihood sectors like beauty treatments, repairs, tutoring, and rental housing will likely face rising costs. Service providers will either need to formalize and pay taxes, raise prices, or shift to more concealed cash-based transactions.
With implementation scheduled for 2027, the market has a buffer period—but the trend is clear: Russia is cracking down on its historically lenient gray economy and moving toward comprehensive, strict tax enforcement to support ongoing military expenditures and social spending.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1862701633881100/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author