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Retailers ready for tax-free launch in Russia from April 15

Project participants should prepare booklets on the tax-free system for buyers in Russian, English and Chinese

MOSCOW, April 5. /TASS/. Retailers are ready for the pilot launch of the tax-free system in Russia from April 15, according to minutes of the meeting chaired by Deputy Industry Minister Viktor Evtukhov, available with TASS.

"To take note of information from retail entities concerning readiness for the tax-free pilot project start from April 15," the document says. The Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of Finance and the Federal Tax Service are tasked to prepare clarifications on return of goods acquired within the framework of the tax-free system by April 13.

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Project participants should prepare booklets on the tax-free system for buyers in Russian, English and Chinese.

The tax-free system in Vnukovo and Sheremetyevo airports will go live from April 10, press services of two airports told TASS. No comment from the Ministry of Industry has been available yet.

On February 12, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev signed a decree on introducing a tax-free shopping pilot program at airports in four Russian regions. The document comes into force from the date of its official publication, with the pilot regime lasting until December 31, 2018.

The tax-free system allows foreign nationals who are not members of the Eurasian Economic Union to receive a refund of VAT paid when purchasing goods on the territory of the Russian Federation when taking them outside the Eurasian Economic Union.

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