On January 1, 2026, amendments to the Tax Code of the Russian Federation will come into force, which change the rules for the application of VAT for taxpayers engaged in the extraction of precious metals.
The relevant Federal Law No. 425-FZ dated 11/28/2025 has been published on the Official Internet Portal of Legal Information.
It should be recalled that until the end of 2025, the norms of Article 149 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation apply, which exempt from VAT the sale of ores, concentrates and other industrial products containing precious metals, scrap and waste of precious metals for the production of precious metals and refining.
Starting in 2026, Articles 149 and 164 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation will be amended, which, instead of VAT exemption, set a 0% rate for the sale of ores, concentrates and other industrial products containing precious metals by taxpayers engaged in the extraction of precious metals to refining organizations authorized to refine precious metals.
At the same time, amendments to Article 165 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation will establish that in order to confirm the validity of applying the 0% rate, the tax authorities will need to submit:
- the contract (a copy of the contract) for the sale of ores, concentrates and other industrial products containing precious metals for subsequent refining;
- documents (copies thereof) confirming the transfer by the taxpayer of ores, concentrates and (or) other industrial products containing precious metals to refining organizations authorized to refine precious metals.
