Category: Mainfin Bank

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Source: Mainfin Bank –

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How will the Federal Tax Service collect debts from Russians without a court order?

Tax authorities no longer need to obtain a court ruling on individuals' debts – a simplified (automated) procedure for collecting tax arrears has come into effect in Russia. Debt write-off occurs in several steps:

The tax authority that has recorded the arrears sends the citizen a notice—via the taxpayer's account, Gosuslugi, or by mail. Russian citizens have 30 business days to dispute the assessment. If they agree with the debt, no action is required; the amount will be forcibly debited from their accounts within the specified period. If there is a dispute, the taxpayer submits a recalculation request or complaint—either online or by mail. The Federal Tax Service makes a decision on the request within one month; this period may be extended by an additional 30 days. During the review period, the disputed amount will be removed from the Unified Tax System (UTS), allowing the citizen to pay other taxes, and no collection will be carried out.

Based on the appeal, the Federal Tax Service will decide whether to grant the citizen's claim or deny it. If the debt is not recalculated, the taxpayer can file a complaint with a higher-level tax authority.

What are the benefits of writing off tax debts without going to court?

It would seem that the new procedure benefits only tax authorities, as the Federal Tax Service now has more opportunities to collect debts from Russians. However, the simplified debt write-off procedure also has advantages for individuals:

The deadline for filing a complaint against assessed taxes has been increased from 20 (with a court order) to 30 business days; the procedure for assessing and appealing tax arrears has become more transparent; and debtors will no longer have to pay legal fees, which previously increased expenses.

"The interests of debtors will now be protected—automatic debits will be suspended during the proceedings, and the disputed charge will be excluded from the unified account," the Federal Tax Service stated.

Russians will not be able to file a dispute with assessed taxes for all types of payments. For example, it will not be possible to appeal taxes related to business and professional activities, as well as personal income tax declared by the individual (i.e., declared independently).

10:00 04.11.2025

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Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Mainfin Bank –

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How have scammers modernized their scheme to extort money from Russians?

This sophisticated scam, like most others, relies on social engineering, whereby the victim is misled and forced to transfer money to the scammers. The scheme involves several stages:

The scammer contacts the victim, posing as an employee of a bank, law enforcement agency, the State Services portal, investment platforms, etc. The victim is offered the chance to "save money" from theft or increase their capital—the cover story can vary. To implement the plan, the victim must transfer their savings to an acquaintance, friend, or relative—ideally, if the two people have previously conducted banking transactions. The acquaintance will then personally transfer the funds to the scammers, without attracting the attention of the bank's security services.

IN T-bank Reports indicate that the number of cases of fraud using victims' friends has increased by 60%. A complex chain of stolen funds helps fraudsters bypass credit institutions' anti-fraud systems.

What should bank clients do to avoid becoming victims of fraud?

Financial security and literacy are talked about literally everywhere – representatives banksThe media, law enforcement agencies, and independent experts are warning Russians about the risks of fraud. However, no preventative measures have yet produced the desired results—people of all ages, social status, and education are falling for scammers. To avoid becoming a victim, experts urge:

Avoid entering payment information on dubious websites; use a separate card with a minimum balance for online purchases; filter calls using software to immediately see who is calling from an unknown number; do not disclose personal information to third parties or share codes from SMS; if you receive a call "from the bank's security service," contact the organization using the official number or visit a branch in person.

"It's important to monitor the payment transactions of children and elderly relatives—these individuals are at the highest risk. It's advisable to enable transaction notifications on your phone and set acceptable spending limits," the expert recommends.

Cyberpolice urges Russians to critically evaluate offers of high incomes, as scammers often disguise themselves as investment platforms. These scams may involve famous people (actors, athletes, politicians), as well as the victims' relatives.

12:00 10/28/2025

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How will banks make money on the digital ruble?

Smart contracts are algorithms that execute preset operations with the digital ruble, such as transferring funds step by step in real estate transactions. Transactions are automated, and administration and control costs are reduced. The Central Bank of the Russian Federation plans to allow banks to profit from the digital ruble—commercial institutions will be granted the right to create smart contracts and publish them.

"There's been increased interest from banks in the digital ruble—major companies are already proposing their ideas, and smart contracts will be an interesting case for them," the Central Bank stated.

The regulator promises to publish the concept in early 2026. The development is being conducted in dialogue with banks, and their interests will be taken into account. Smart contracts will be implemented similarly to app stores: those interested in using the required algorithms will begin paying a fee to the developers.

When will the implementation of the digital ruble in Russia be completed?

The large-scale implementation of digital currency in Russia has been repeatedly postponed; the project is currently still in the testing phase with individuals and businesses. The plan is to introduce the electronic ruble gradually:

By September of next year, banks and large companies with annual revenues of ₽120 million or more will be able to access the digital currency; by September 2027, organizations with a turnover of ₽30 million or more will be able to do so; by September 2028, all organizations will accept the digital currency.

Prominent figures are being recruited to test the electronic payment method. For example, Central Bank employees, including Elvira Nabiullina, are expected to be test subjects; her team will be paid in digital rubles. The new payment method will be most useful in the public sector, where maximum transparency in handling budget funds is essential.

09:30 10/21/2025

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What is known about VTB's palm-based payment technology?

VTB is proposing to identify customers using palm scans through updated payment terminals – the technology is intended to become an alternative to biometrics. Users will be able to pay with their palms using the following method:

The customer places their hand over the IR sensor on the terminal. The system analyzes their unique fingerprint, including the pattern of capillaries. The bank identifies the customer and finds the card selected for payment. The funds are debited—the entire process takes 10-15 seconds.

It is expected that biometric data will be stored in the Unified Biometric System, and for widespread adoption of the technology, the bank will need to upgrade its acquiring terminals. The exact launch date for palm payments has not yet been set.

Which other banks are implementing biometric technologies in payment services?

The rapid development of biometric payments in Russia began amid the imposition of Western sanctions, which limited contactless payments, causing difficulties for clients. Biometric technologies are already in use at several Alfa-Bank branches, where palm-scan access to safe deposit boxes has been available since 2018, but the technology is only available at the flagship branch.

"Russian banks have managed to resolve the issue of blocked payment apps on iOS. For example, T-Bank clients can now pay via T-Pay, and Sber has launched Bluetooth payments," the expert noted.

Sberbank also launched a biometric smile payment platform in 2023; this service will be available to clients of other banks starting in late 2024. Sberbank also announced the introduction of hand-scan payments through Finpolis. To implement this project, the bank will no longer need to update its terminals or connect to the Unified Biometric System (UBS) to store biometric data. Biometric technologies are also being developed in other countries; for example, in China, you can now pay for a subway ticket with your palm.

10:00 10/14/2025

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Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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Who was the first in Russia to receive a "digital" salary?

The first recipient of a salary in the new currency was Anatoly Aksakov, head of the State Duma Committee on Financial Markets. The parliamentarian noted several features of working with the digital ruble, which he was able to test in practice:

The Central Bank of the Russian Federation account is displayed in the bank's standard app; the account balance and completed transactions—debits and credits—can be viewed. Aksakov paid with the new currency at a cafe, although payments are only accepted at locations that have configured digital rubles. Transferring funds through online banking was also straightforward. The parliamentarian also tried transferring funds to a regular account and then withdrawing them from an ATM—no difficulties were encountered.

"Working with the digital ruble is done through the bank's app—no additional software is required," Aksakov noted.

The head of the Financial Markets Committee decided to personally participate in the experiment in order to independently evaluate the procedure for working with the new currency and demonstrate the mechanism to Russians.

How is the digital ruble experiment going?

The digital ruble is expected to be launched next year, while the Central Bank of Russia continues to experiment and test transactions with Russian citizens and businesses. The pilot is being conducted in several stages:

Testing began in the summer of 2023 with a limited number of participants; by the end of 2024, 9,000 Russians and over 1,000 companies had joined the experiment; by the summer of 2025, over 100,000 transactions had been conducted with the digital currency; the total number of transfers exceeded 63,000, payments – 13,000, and smart contract transactions – 17,000; in September, salaries were credited in digital rubles for the first time; later, some students received scholarships in the new currency.

However, public reaction to the introduction of the digital ruble remains mixed: about half of Russians see no advantages in using the new currency. Citizens believe that using the digital ruble will entail increased risks and increased government oversight.

12:00 07.10.2025

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How does the Family Mortgage program work now?

Mortgage program The program for state support for families with children has been in operation in the Russian Federation for over seven years, and the terms have been adjusted several times. Thus, in 2025, the following people can apply for a loan:

at a preferential rate of 6% (standard mortgages are issued at 17% per annum and higher); if the family has at least one child under the age of six (or a child with disabilities under the age of 18); the down payment must be at least 20%; the loan amount is 12 million rubles in Moscow and the Moscow region, St. Petersburg and the Moscow region, 6 million rubles in other regions; housing can only be purchased in new buildings or on the secondary market in regions where there are no apartment buildings under construction.

"The preferential program has led to a doubling of real estate prices over five years, while construction volumes have only increased by 10% during this period," the head of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation stated regarding the downsides of state support.

Family mortgage The program is valid until 2030, but may be extended in the future, as it has been on several occasions. This benefit is aimed at stimulating the birth rate and providing opportunities for families in need to improve their housing conditions.

What changes to preferential mortgages are the authorities proposing?

The State Duma has instructed the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Construction to jointly develop changes to the terms of the Family Mortgage program. It is expected that the authorities will implement the following lending terms under the state-supported program:

The interest rate will be differentiated and linked to the number of children in the family; upon the birth of a new child, the rate will be automatically reduced; the minimum area of apartments available for purchase will be limited to 35 square meters; the possibility of linking rates to the region of residence and the size of the federal subject is also being considered.

The possibility of banning preferential mortgages outside the region of registration is also being discussed. This debate stems from the fact that 40% of loans were taken out by borrowers in Moscow and St. Petersburg, as housing construction is not taking place in smaller towns.

09:00 09/23/2025

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Why did China decide to bring Russian players back into the debt market?

The initiative to enter the Chinese debt market came from Russia, with Beijing supporting the strengthening of economic ties. Moreover, the leaders of the two countries noted that Russian-Chinese relations are currently at a high level, serving as a model of international cooperation.

Discussions on future deals took place at the end of August, with representatives of China's regulator and Russian top management participating. Russia's entry into the bond market will allow domestic businesses to regain access to the global financial arena, while the Chinese side will have the opportunity to invest in the real sector of the economy.

What is known about Russian businesses' plans to enter the Chinese bond market?

The Russian and Chinese sides confirm the agreement reached, but have not yet disclosed the details of the agreement, about which little is known:

China plans to open its domestic bond market to Russia; Russian businesses will be able to place panda bonds – debt obligations denominated in Chinese yuan. Major Russian companies will be key market participants. Representatives of Rosatom and Gazprom, both companies with high credit ratings, were among the first to express interest in the deals.

"The revival of the bond market is associated with the risk of secondary sanctions against Chinese banks – Western pressure remains significant," lawyers express concerns.

As a reminder, the US previously threatened to impose sanctions on companies and entities cooperating with Russia. For this reason, many Chinese banks refused to conduct transactions with Russian counterparties, and Russian borrowers were cut off from international stock markets.

10:00 09/16/2025

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Why are the authorities introducing new restrictions for microloan lovers?

Additional restrictions on the market loans from MFO will be introduced at the initiative of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation. The State Duma explained the tightening of regulation by several reasons:

high level of indebtedness of the population – in 2024 alone, over 6.4 million people became new clients of microfinance organizations; easy access to microloans provokes Russians to make impulsive purchases; many borrowers find themselves in a debt hole, because they take out a new loan to pay off the previous one; also, due to low financial literacy, citizens fall into the trap of unscrupulous lenders and fraudulent companies.

Cooling the industry has been discussed by industry participants since 2024 – the Bank of Russia has planned a large-scale reform: MFIs are planned to be divided into three categories, which will determine the list of services offered and the amount of capital required.

How will the restrictions on issuing more than one loan work?

In 2026, it will become more difficult for Russians to get a loan from microfinance organizations – the State Duma is preparing to introduce several bans that will cool the market:

it will not be possible to have more than one loan in an MFI at the same time; a new microloan can be issued three days after the old debt is closed; the maximum overpayment will be reduced from 130 to 100% per annum; the authorities will introduce a three-day “cooling-off period” for microloans – this is already in effect for credit products of banks (money does not become available immediately after signing the contract).

“Tighter regulation could lead to the growth of the shadow segment, which will entail additional risks for borrowers – in pursuit of “easy” money, Russians could become victims of fraudsters,” experts express their concern.

Measures are also planned to be taken to combat illegal lenders – supervision of the industry will be strengthened and advertising of organizations that do not have a license but offer loans at high interest rates and property collateral will be prohibited. Such companies often disguise themselves as pawnshops and consignment shops, concealing fraudulent activity.

10:00 02.09.2025

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Why do MPs want to limit migrants' money transfers?

The appeal of deputies to the Bank of Russia with a proposal to limit transfers by foreigners is due to the lack of effective legislative measures that would allow controlling the income of migrants. Legislators cite several reasons for introducing restrictions:

Foreigners transfer amounts from Russia that are significantly higher than their official incomes; the percentage of unofficial employment with salaries “in envelopes” remains high in the country – the budget does not receive enough taxes; migrant transfers are one of the channels for the withdrawal of capital obtained by criminal means; the lack of control leads to negative economic and social consequences for the country.

“The majority of migrants do not pay any taxes in Russia, but they take large sums out of the country: last year alone, over 14 billion dollars were sent to Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan – essentially, this is black cash,” MP Sergei Mironov previously stated.

The fight against illegal employment and money laundering are the key reasons why authorities want to introduce legislative restrictions on transfers.

What restrictions for migrants does the State Duma propose to introduce?

Deputies proposed to limit the amount of migrant transfers – foreigners will be able to send home funds not exceeding the amount of their own salary. If a migrant wants to transfer an amount greater than their official salary, the bank will be forced to request a declaration that will confirm the legality of the income received.

The government also proposed increasing a number of duties related to migration registration and taxing money transfers made by foreigners. Deputies recalled that last year alone, the number of foreigners in Russia increased by 9.5 million people, and another 700,000 migrants are in the country illegally.

09:00 08/26/2025

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What innovations do LDPR deputies propose for young parents?

The amount of maternity capital for the birth of a second child may be set in an unfixed amount, depending on real estate prices. LDPR deputies have prepared their proposals to stimulate the birth rate:

for the birth of a second child, parents will be paid the cost of housing with an area of 40 sq. m.; for the birth of a third child, full or partial repayment will be available mortgages in an amount equivalent to an area of 40 square meters; it is proposed to conduct an experiment on the implementation of initiatives in one of the regions in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the mechanism.

However, the proposal of the deputies is still just an idea; its implementation requires an assessment by the relevant departments, development and approval of the bill. The government has not reported on the consideration of the initiative.

How else does the State Duma plan to increase the birth rate in the country?

The Russian authorities are seriously considering stimulating the birth rate – for this purpose, the Demographic Council was created in early 2025. The members of this association proposed:

introduce corporate demographic standards at enterprises; create conditions for the resettlement of young families to villages; prohibit teenagers from having abortions without parental consent; change the Constitution, giving the embryo basic human rights; limit the commissioning of small apartments – developers must think about families.

“A good solution for large families would be to develop a domestic car – comfortable, large and roomy,” the People’s Front proposed.

Another bill currently under consideration in the State Duma proposes a 25% increase in the amount of maternity capital. The full amount is to be paid for the birth of each child, including 1.5 million rubles for the second, 2.6 million rubles for the third and subsequent children.

09:00 08/19/2025

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