In the first half of 2026, approximately 37,000 new IT companies were registered in Russia, according to Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. This growth occurred despite rising taxes and stricter accreditation requirements for IT firms. The government did not provide data on the number of companies that ceased operations during the same period.
The Russian government attributes this increase to ongoing support measures, including the development of over 200 technology parks and clusters. Plans are in place to establish dozens more such facilities over the next four years. These sites aim to provide startup founders with the necessary infrastructure for their operations.
Accredited IT companies currently benefit from tax incentives and employee perks, such as mortgage subsidies and military service deferments. However, the sector faces challenges: the income tax rate for IT firms has increased from 0% to 5% since January 2025, and accreditation criteria have become more rigorous, with thousands of companies being excluded during periodic reviews.
The labor market for IT professionals shows mixed results. In 2025, average salaries in the industry saw little to no growth, often failing to keep pace with inflation. Entry-level positions are particularly affected, with graduates facing high competition and stagnant or declining salary offers, especially in fields like PHP development and data science.
