On September 30, the Russian government proposed new tax regulations concerning personal income tax (PIT) on gambling winnings from bookmakers and totalizators for the entire year. Under these new rules, players who lose more than they win during the year will not be required to pay any tax.
The amendments to the Tax Code have already been submitted to the State Duma, and the new regulations will apply to winnings starting from 2023.
According to the draft law, the tax base will be the positive difference between the total winnings from bets calculated throughout the year and the total amount of bets placed. Currently, PIT is calculated separately for each win. Bookmakers and totalizators, acting as tax agents, will calculate the tax cumulatively with each payout and at the end of the year, accounting for withheld amounts.
They will be exempt from penalties and fines under Articles 122 and 126 of the Tax Code, provided that the tax is fully paid according to the new rules by February 1, 2027. If the amendments are approved, the regulations will come into effect one month after the official publication of the law. The amendments to Article 214.7 of the Tax Code can be found on pages 98-100 of the attached draft law, with deadlines and retroactive force detailed on pages 180-183.