Russia Approves Medical Expense Tax Breaks to Curb Virus Hit

Russia approved a list of medical expenses that can be deducted from personal income taxes to counter the economic blow from the coronavirus outbreak.

The government on Thursday published Decree No. 458 to allow individual taxpayers, from those engaged in medical activities to parents, to deduct payments for any medical service rendered to other taxpayers and dependents, according to a statement.

• The decree will go into effect one month from the date of publication.
• The approved list of deductible medical services include emergency and medical evacuation services, as well as primary health care, hospital-based specialized patient treatment, and palliative care services.
• On April 1, Russia’s new Federal law No. 102-FZ expanded tax-related powers of the federal government for 2020, allowing the government to extend tax payment and filing deadlines, and cancel or suspend tax audits.