Excisable goodsPhoto:ShuttrstockDespite the fact that officials do not have a clear understanding and definition of luxury goods, in search of an additional source of income for the federal budget, Deputy Finance Minister Andrei Klepach proposed that the Finance Ministry introduce an excise tax on them. As reported by Vedomosti, the tax may affect energy-consuming household appliances, cars with high fuel consumption, products whose sales are growing above average, for example, soft drinks. Currently, the list of excisable goods contained in the Tax Code includes alcohol, spirits, cigarettes, cars and motorcycles, gasoline, diesel fuel, and motor oils. In the first version of the excise tax law, adopted in 1991, the list also included jewelry, sturgeon and salmon caviar, seafood delicacies, high-quality porcelain and crystal products, carpets, fur, genuine leather clothing, automobile tires and chocolate, according to materials from the Ministry of Economic Development that were obtained by Vedomosti.
