Russia denounces the double taxation treaty (DTT) with the Netherlands.
Another European offshore haven, by all indications, will cease to be as early as January 1, 2022.
Other "warm lands" for Russian money - Cyprus, Malta, Luxembourg - went to the revision of the DTT.
The position of the Dutch authorities in this sense was reminiscent of trading at the Turkish flea market.
The Dutch, in response to our proposal, not only did not try to bring their positions closer, but expressed a desire to expand the list of incomes taxed in the two countries at a rate of 2-3%.
Now dividends placed in accounts in the Netherlands will be taxed in Russia at a rate of 15%.
Interest on loans and royalties - at a rate of 20%.
The Russian authorities can be understood: instead of 33 billion rubles received from tax residents of the Netherlands in 2017-2019, it was possible to get 180 billion. Among the largest taxpayers under this tax treaty are X5 Retail Group, Yandex and Svyaznoy.
On the one hand, denunciation of the tax treaty will force our companies to pay more taxes - bad news for investors and the owners of the companies themselves.
But I would not rush to sound the alarm: the Russian authorities can provide such companies with benefits and compensate up to 100% of payments arising in excess of the previous one.
But this will be a sovereign decision of the Ministry of Finance, which will add transparency and controllability in relations with private business.
It will be much more difficult for Dutch subholdings operating in Russia: in addition to taxes in Russia, they will have to pay them in the Netherlands.
But even here a solution can be found, and this instrument will be in the hands of exclusively the Russian authorities.
I often say that in the new political reality, when Europeans view - albeit declaratively - Russia as a threat, national companies should save money within the country as much as possible.
Of course, with the counter movement of our authorities to create the most comfortable conditions for investment in any of the economic sectors.
In our country, there are no formal obstacles to creating practically greenhouse conditions for businesses of any scale, and for reinvesting profits.
Even if a large entrepreneur decides to spend his money on hotels, data centers, tea plantations, or even on autonomous cities, first of all he must evaluate the possibility of this activity here. And at the time of the assessment, the conditions for reinvestment should be such that he understands: in Russia the conditions are either comparable to Europe, or better. Then a mustard seed of social responsibility and patriotism will tip the scales of such a businessman in favor of the development of our territory, and not the European Union with its hysterical parliamentarians ready to freeze any assets under the pretext of a super moon. In which, of course, the GRU, the KGB and Russian hackers are to blame.
As for the further termination of the DTT string, the next in line is no less intractable Switzerland, followed by Singapore and Hong Kong.
And an example of Russia's tough position in negotiations with the Netherlands should help to reach a compromise in the negotiations.
Taxes return to their home harbor and must be welcomed here with open arms.
The point of view of the author may not coincide with the position of the editorial board.