The beginning of 2025 will bring residents of St. Petersburg a number of changes in legislation, which, in particular, will affect changes in personal income tax rates and an increase in the minimum wage. In addition, indexation of payments was returned to working pensioners, and the resort tax in the Northern capital was replaced by a tourist tax.
We also remind you that the New Year holidays end on January 8, then we will have a two-day working week on January 9 and 10, after which the calendar will look as usual.
In St. Petersburg, the resort tax has been replaced by a tourist tax
From January 1, 2025, by decision of the St. Petersburg Legislative Assembly, adopted in connection with changes in the Tax Code of the Russian Federation, in the Northern capital, instead of the resort tax, which until now was paid directly by city guests, a tourist tax was introduced – it will be levied on organizations and entrepreneurs providing tourism services. accommodation of tourists. The amount of payments is tied to the cost of living, but the daily rate cannot be lower than 100 rubles established at the federal level. In addition, the list of beneficiaries excluded from the travel tax is expanding.
Indexation of payments returned to working pensioners
From January 1, 2025, indexation of pensions for working pensioners has been resumed. The pension amount, taking into account missed indexations, is fixed on the pensioner’s personal account. The amount of the increase will be calculated based on it, but the amount received will be added to the pension that the person receives in hand. The fully indexed amount will be available after dismissal. In addition, from January 1, 2025, for both working and non-working pensioners, insurance pensions will be indexed by 7.3 percent, and the fixed payment to the old-age insurance pension will increase from 8,134 rubles 88 kopecks to 8,728 rubles 73 kopecks.
The minimum wage has increased
From January 1, 2025, the minimum wage (minimum wage) in the Russian Federation has been increased by 16.6% – from 19,242 to 22,440 rubles. It is important to note that regional minimum wages may also apply in the constituent entities of the Federation. In St. Petersburg, it is established by a regional agreement on the minimum wage for 2025 and a tripartite agreement for 2023-2025 in the amount of 28,750 rubles.
A new income tax scale has been introduced
On January 1, a progressive taxation scale began to operate in Russia. It will affect those who receive income over 2.4 million rubles per year (or 200 thousand rubles per month). For other citizens, the personal income tax rate will remain the same – 13%.
The scale now looks like this:
- for income from 2.4 to 5 million rubles – 15%;
- for income from 5 to 20 million rubles – 18%;
- for income from 20 to 50 million rubles – 20%;
- for income over 50 million rubles – 22%.
The previous rate of 13 percent, regardless of the amount of income, was retained for participants in the SVO, as well as for those who work in the Far North or in areas equivalent to it.
Fines for unpaid travel on toll roads have appeared in St. Petersburg
Deputies of the Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg approved fines for unpaid travel on toll roads. From January 9, 2025, penalties of 3,000 rubles will be provided for non-paying individuals on passenger cars, and 10,000 rubles will be collected from legal entities. Owners of trucks and buses will have to pay 5,000 rubles and 15,000 rubles respectively. At the same time, a 50% discount is provided if the fine is paid promptly.
Fines for traffic violations have increased
The President of the Russian Federation signed a law on increasing fines for traffic violations from January 1, 2025. In particular, the range of payments for speeding, which currently ranges from 500 to 5,000 rubles, will be from 750 to 7,500 rubles. For driving without wearing a seat belt or running a red light, the fine will be 1,500 rubles. Also, the fine for drunk driving and transfer of driving rights to a person while intoxicated has been increased from 30,000 to 45,000. A new fine will also appear – for repeated driving without compulsory motor insurance. This violation will cost 3,000–5,000 rubles.
The standard has been set for mortgages
From January 1, 2025, Russian banks will have to issue loans for the purchase of housing, observing the “Standard for the Protection of the Rights and Legitimate Interests of Mortgage Borrowers,” specially developed by the Bank of Russia. The new rules, which will apply only to new loans, introduce a ban on various schemes for the purchase of new buildings, which the Central Bank considers risky. So, for example, the developer is prohibited from negotiating with the bank on a lower rate and repaying the difference in interest by increasing the price of the apartment, which creates the appearance of a profitable deal for the buyer. In addition, it will no longer be possible to use credit funds or cashback from the developer for the down payment; you can only pay with your own money. Banks are required to place borrowers’ money exclusively in escrow accounts protected by an insurance system. The loan size is limited to 80% of the value of the collateral property. The loan term is limited to 30 years.
Baths and sheds will be included in property tax
A law has been introduced according to which owners of capital outbuildings, such as bathhouses, sheds, greenhouses and toilets, are required to pay property taxes. It will have to be paid at a rate of 0.1% to 0.3% of the cadastral value. Mobile structures that do not have a foundation, as well as temporary buildings, are still not subject to tax.
To donate real estate, you will need to visit a notary
From January 13, 2025, a law will come into force according to which it will no longer be possible to donate real estate under a regular written agreement – it will have to be certified by a notary. This applies to all cases, including those when the contract is concluded between relatives. At the same time, the amount of duty that will have to be paid for individuals has increased from 2,000 rubles to 4,000 rubles.
Divorce will cost more
A number of state duties have also increased. For example, to register a divorce you will now have to pay not 650 rubles, but 5,000 rubles. The same amount will be charged for changing your name, surname or patronymic (previously it was 1,600 rubles).
Excise taxes on tobacco, alcohol and soda are increasing
From January 1, 2025, the excise tax on ethyl alcohol in strong alcoholic beverages will increase by 15 percent – from 643 to 740 rubles. Excise tax rates on cider and mead, as well as beer with a strength of 0.5 to 8.6%, will be 30 rubles per 1 liter. Excise taxes for beer with an alcohol content of over 8.6% will be 56 rubles. The excise tax on sweet drinks will be raised from 7 to 10 rubles. At the same time, a drink will be considered excisable if it contains not five, as now, but two grams of sugar. The rate on cigarettes and cigarettes will increase to 2,945 rubles per thousand pieces plus 18% of the cost, calculated based on the maximum retail price, but not less than 4 thousand rubles per thousand pieces.
A type of long-term investment has become available
A new type of insurance has appeared in Russia – shared life insurance. It is also another tool for long-term investing and saving money. The fractional life insurance system provides that the funds that people invest in protecting life and health can be invested in securities.
New national projects launched
On January 1, the national projects “Family”, “Long and Active Life”, “Youth and Children”, “Personnel” and “Data Economy and Digital Transformation of the State” were launched, which Russian President Vladimir Putin announced in his message to parliament on February 29 this year . In addition, national projects “Infrastructure for life”, “Ecological well-being”, “Efficient and competitive economy”, “Tourism and hospitality”, “Efficient transport system”, “Means of production and automation”, “New materials and chemistry”, “ Industrial support for transport mobility”, “New technologies for preserving health”, “New nuclear and energy technologies”, “Development of a multi-satellite orbital constellation”, “Unmanned aircraft systems”, “Data economy”, national project for the development of the agro-industrial complex, national project to support Russian exporters, as well as the “Zemstvo Cultural Worker” program.
Holidays and memorable dates in St. Petersburg:
- January 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 (non-working days) – New Year holidays
- January 7 (non-working day) – Christmas Day
- January 12 — Day of the Prosecutor’s Office of the Russian Federation
- January 13 — Russian Press Day
- January 14 — Pipeline Troops Day
- January 14 — Charter Day of St. Petersburg
- January 18 — Day of breaking the siege of Leningrad
- January 21 — Engineering Troops Day
- January 25 — Day of Russian Students
- January 27 — The day of the complete liberation of the city of Leningrad by Soviet troops from the blockade of it by Nazi troops (1944).
Mikhail Makarov
Source: www.rosbalt.ru
