6 new measures to support the Russian IT sector

How to get help

From March 5, IT companies can fill out a special form on the State Services portal and report the need to receive assistance from the state. Applications are processed by the Ministry of Digital Development of the Russian Federation.

New measures to support the IT industry have become an addition to existing ones two packagesadopted in previous years. Basically, they apply to accredited companies - those that have passed state registration with the Ministry of Digital Development. Published on the agency's website instructionhow to quickly go through this procedure.

What help can you expect

1. Tax breaks and benefits

IT companies are exempt from income tax until December 31, 2024. It used to be 3%. At the same time, organizations in which at least 90% of their income comes from software development and the sale of their own software products will be able to take advantage of this advantage. Companies that place ads in applications and online services are also entitled to the benefit. And also those whose income is related to the sale, installation, testing and maintenance of domestic digital solutions.

Also, IT companies are exempted from inspections by regulatory authorities for three years. And to help IT people, the state will provide loans at a rate not exceeding 3%, not only for existing, but also for new projects.

2. Departure from the army

The measure applies to those employees of accredited IT companies who are under 27 years old. Among the prerequisites are the presence of specialized education and direct participation in the development and support of software and software and hardware systems. Mintsifry plans provide such an opportunity to specialists not only of accredited, but also of systemically important companies.

Also the ministry offers give a deferment from the army to university graduates if they get a job in an accredited IT organization within a year. But the list of specialties has not yet been published.

3. Preferential mortgage

Personnel of accredited IT companies will be able to use preferential mortgage. True, the government has yet to decide which categories of workers will be able to qualify for such assistance. Mintsifry offers extend benefits to both IT companies and manufacturers of telecom equipment and software and hardware systems.

4. Grants for Russian developers

Such support will render three state organizations at once: the Fund for Assistance to the Development of Small Forms of Enterprises in the Scientific and Technical Sphere (Bortnik Fund), the Development Fund Center for the Development and Commercialization of New Technologies (Skolkovo Foundation) and the Russian Foundation for the Development of Information Technologies (RFRIT). Grants will be available to domestic developers of promising IT solutions and digital products aimed at import substitution.

The share of state funding will increase to 80%. Depending on the fund, the amount of support can be up to 500 million rubles. And if we are talking about particularly significant projects for the development of IT solutions, then the grant will increase within 6 billion rubles. The operational headquarters of the Ministry of Digital Development will deal with such issues.

5. Simplified recruitment of foreigners

A foreign specialist will no longer need to obtain a work permit in Russia if he has concluded an employment contract with an accredited IT company. At the same time, for the entire period of validity of the document, the employee and his family members provided the right to temporary residence or even a residence permit. True, no more than three years from the date of entry into Russia.

If a foreign IT specialist needs a visa to come to work in the Russian Federation, they will open a multiple-entry job for the entire term of the employment contract, as well as members of his family.

6. Priority in public procurement

Government plans to revise conditions for the purchase of Russian IT developments for state and municipal organizations, as well as for individual legal entities. They will be encouraged to use critical high-tech solutions created in Russia. This measure will help reduce the importance of foreign software in the face of sanctions. In addition, the authorities want to significantly simplify the procurement procedure for both government organizations and IT companies.