Businessmen are ready to leave Omsk en masse due to a six-fold increase in taxes | Economics/Business

Entrepreneurs opposed the cancellation from 2025, a preferential rate of 1% for companies operating under a simplified taxation system.

At today’s press conference of the Omsk Regional Union of Entrepreneurs, business representatives outlined bleak prospects for the abolition of benefits under the simplified taxation system. Since 2020, this measure has acted as one of the “Covid” preferences.

In the current version of the law of the Omsk region, in 2021 the following rates for the simplified tax system are established: if the object of taxation is income – 1%, if income reduced by the amount of expenses – 5%. From January 1, 2025, this benefit is going to be abolished, and the rate for enterprises operating under the “simplified tax” will be 6%.

Businessmen believe that this should under no circumstances be allowed to happen. First of all, a tax increase will complicate accounting reporting; new, more qualified employees will have to be hired. Not to mention the loss of potential investors. This was stated by the head of the Omsk Regional Union of Entrepreneurs, owner of the Reaktor car service chain. Ilya Nikolin. Entrepreneurs turned to regional authorities with a request to extend the preferential rate. Otherwise you will have to change your registration.

– We consulted with the Ministry of Economy and tax authorities and found out that all enterprises that do not benefit from tax benefits pay 1%. The business cannot pay anymore. The Ministry of Finance talks about colossal lost income if they continue to apply a preferential rate of 1% for companies operating under the “simplified system,” but in fact this is not the case,” noted Ilya Nikolin. “The authorities heard us, but the solution to the issue is being delayed.” If nothing happens, entrepreneurs will need to take some independent actions and look for more comfortable conditions. There are regions where there are a lot of permanent tax benefits.

As an example, the president of the Omsk Regional Union of Entrepreneurs cited the Republic of Mordovia with a tax rate of 1% for entrepreneurs, provided for five years.

– A lot of enterprises have already re-registered from the Omsk region. And with the abolition of the simplified tax system benefit, we will see a powerful outflow of companies to other regions. The result is a decrease in consumer demand. Now we are all on the verge of profitability,” emphasized Nikolin, who admitted that he had already re-registered several of his companies in other regions.

He changed his registration for some of his organizations and is a member of the coordinating council of the Omsk Regional Union of Entrepreneurs Igor Rubin. The entrepreneur is a co-owner of the Metromall shopping center and the founder of the Traveler’s coffee coffee shop.

– In the Novosibirsk region, starting next year, the rate will be set at 1%, and Omsk businesses will re-register there en masse. Our authorities believe that if the fee increases 6 times, the regional budget revenues will correspondingly increase. Representatives of public catering do not all have big businesses; it is easier for them to move to another region,” Igor Rubin outlined the situation in public catering.

Another member of the coordination council, representing the pharmaceutical sector in the Union of Entrepreneurs, Mikhail Melnikov expects a positive outcome. And he believes that the extension of the benefit will allow investing in development.

– The extra money that remains with us after paying taxes goes to development. We do not eat funds, but invest them. And invested finances mean development potential. Some enterprises will close, some will go into the “gray” zone, while the majority will re-register. He hopes that after the dialogue, solutions will be developed,” he emphasized.

In the coming weeks it will become clear whether the authorities will extend the 1% tax benefit for companies operating under a simplified system. But business is determined.