Starting December 1, 2026, Russia will introduce a mandatory non-tax technology levy on manufacturers and importers of electronics. Initially, the measure will apply exclusively to smartphones and laptops. The government expects to collect 1.06 ₽ billion in the first month of implementation, followed by 11.7 ₽ billion in 2027 and 12.4 ₽ billion annually in 2028 and 2029.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade will determine the specific list of goods, rates, and calculation methods. According to a draft order published in September, the base rate is set at 746 ₽ per laptop and 373 ₽ per smartphone. The current list includes 5,261 product positions. Future plans involve expanding the levy to a broader range of electronic components and related equipment.
Revenue from the levy is designated for state programs focused on the development of the electronics and radio-electronic industry. These projections are significantly lower than the initial estimates from 2025, when the Ministry of Finance anticipated annual revenues of 88 ₽ billion and 110 ₽ billion respectively. Experts attribute this decline to the exclusion of electronic components and manufacturing equipment.
Industry analysts note that the projected annual revenue of 11 ₽–12 billion remains modest compared to the capital requirements of the semiconductor sector. According to Olga Kvashenkina, CEO of SNDGlobal, modern microchip production facilities often require hundreds of billions of rubles in investment, making the current levy a relatively small contribution to the industry's overall financial needs.
