Russia Plans to Strengthen Customs Revenue Collection to Boost Budget Reserves

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The Ministry of Finance is considering the expansion of customs payment administration mechanisms as one of the key reserves for increasing federal budget revenues and reducing the shadow economy, according to statements made at a meeting of the Federal Customs Service (FTS) on March 19.

In 2025, the FTS transferred approximately 5.9 trillion rubles to the federal budget, fulfilling the adjusted revenue plan by 99%, reported the head of the agency, Valery Pikalev. However, compared to the previous year, the volume of revenues decreased, prompting the government to intensify its search for additional budget revenue sources.

Authorities aim to at least restore the previous level of collections by focusing on improving the efficiency of customs administration. Among the priorities for 2026 are further digitalization of internal processes within the service and expanding the customs monitoring experiment, which involves closer cooperation with foreign trade participants.

Additionally, there are plans to strengthen control over import operations, as well as the movement of cash rubles and precious metals, including gold, across the border. According to officials, these measures are expected to increase the transparency of foreign trade operations and reduce opportunities for evading payments.

The Ministry of Finance expects that comprehensive reinforcement of administration will not only increase budget revenues but also help to legalize part of the economic activity that was previously in the gray area.