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The
current government, whose term expires next year, has pledged
not to change tax rates. But the next government, which will be
formed after the first round of a presidential election in March
2018, is expected to have a freer hand.
Speaking at an economic conference in Moscow, Siluanov said his
ministry was proposing cutting mandatory social security
payments, which employers pay on every employee, to 22 percent
from their current level of 30 percent.
Value added tax, which is regarded as a tax on consumers, should
be raised at the same time to 22 percent from 18 percent, said
Siluanov.
Such changes could spark a one-off 2 percent increase in
consumer inflation, he said.
"According to our calculations, that would be neutral for the
budget," Siluanov said.
He did not say when the proposed changes might be introduced,
describing the ideas as suggestions. His ministry wanted to
avoid an increase in spending so as not to raise the overall tax
burden, he said.
Vladimir Putin, who is widely expected to run for what would be
a fourth presidential term in 2018, has called for changes to
the tax system to be made in 2019. Other reforms under
consideration include raising income tax and the retirement age.
(Reporting by Darya Korsunskaya and Denis Pinchuk; Writing by
Andrey Ostroukh; Editing by Andrew Osborn)
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