Some Issues of Preferential Taxation in Special Economic Zones[Некоторые Вопросы Преференциального Налогообложения В Особых Экономических Зонах]

Improving the investment climate is a strategic priority of tax policy. It provides mechanisms and tools playing an important role in matters of global tax competition, and their significance becomes most relevant in the context of the sanction pressure exerted on Russia. In an unstable international situation, the tax system must remain the pillar of the government with ability to create countermeasures, and, for that reason, rules of preferential taxation must be updated in a timely manner because of weakness at the tax regime of special economic zones. This regime needs to take contemporary and comprehensive adjustment representing the novelty of recommendations proposed. The working paper is aimed at their development and therefore suggests the solving a number of tasks including: systematization of tax incentives secured for residents of SEZ in Russia; identification of competing models of preferential taxation in special economic zones within the EaEU; formulating new configuration for the regime and appropriate rationale in order to make better the practice of tax regulation. The underlying conclusion is that the current regulation for tax incentives in the Russian special economic zones has significant drawbacks. Our recommendations are given with respect to lowering the tax burden, optimizing the tax expenditures and increasing the role of constituent entities of Russia in adjusting tax rules.