According to Izvestiya, representatives of Russian companies have asked the Ministry of Digital Development to globally expand the list of IT companies eligible for benefits. In their opinion, in the current situation, everyone needs state support, at least somehow connected with IT, and not just organizations involved in direct software development.
Industry representatives suggest that the Ministry of Digital Development reduce this threshold for IT activities to 20%, and also extend state support not only to software developers, but also to system integrators, organizations that implement or use their own software, microelectronics developers, manufacturers of software and hardware systems, network equipment, data storage systems and servers, data center operators, companies that are involved in the training and retraining of IT specialists or are engaged in technical support, support for dealers and distributors.
The Ministry of Digital Development told the publication that they received a request from IT companies and are considering it at the operational headquarters to develop mechanisms for implementing measures to support the IT industry.
Market experts fear that if the bar for IT activities is lowered, companies that sell foreign software with their own small inserts may try to use state support, passing it off as a new development. Then the meaning of helping domestic developers to create new software will be leveled, which is bad for the industry.
On the other hand, experts believe that the expansion of state support will allow companies involved in unmanned technologies, transport control systems, the creation of software and equipment for electronic signatures and electronic keys, cash desks, satellite systems, smart homes, including the production of components, hardware solutions and special software, get an additional opportunity from the state to continue their activities, and not abandon projects and think about relocation, although some have already begun this process.
On March 3, 2022, the Ministry of Digital Development issued instructions on how to quickly obtain state accreditation for a Russian IT company not yet registered with the department to receive current and new benefits as part of the measures taken yesterday to support the IT industry.
Benefits are granted to companies that have OKVED 62.01, 62.02, 62.02.1, 62.02.4, 62.03.13, 62.09, 63.11.1 subject to the following conditions: their IT activities must bring at least 90% of the total income, and the number of employees be at least 7 people.
The government also decided to expand the list of IT companies that will receive tax preferences. Benefits will apply to companies that create applications for smartphones, as well as to those involved in the implementation, installation and testing of domestic software.
IT companies can obtain accreditation from the Ministry of Digital Transformation by filling out an application on the Gosuslug portal. Applications are accepted only from legal entities. Decisions on them, as indicated in the instructions, are made within one working day.
On March 2, 2022, new state support measures came into force to stabilize and develop the IT industry in the face of sanctions, as well as to stop the flight of developers and qualified personnel:
Russian IT companies will be exempted from income tax and inspections by regulatory authorities for three years;
IT companies will be able to take out loans on favorable terms to continue their work and new projects at a rate not exceeding 3%;
current employees of IT companies under the age of 27 will receive a deferment from conscription for military service, they will have access to preferential mortgages;
grant support for the IT industry;
allocation of funds to improve the living conditions of employees, increase salaries;
simplified employment of foreign personnel, obtaining a residence permit;
tax incentives and preferences for domestic software, as well as companies that receive income from advertising;
stimulation of purchases of domestic IT solutions for state/municipal needs.
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