Valentina Matvienko proposed abolishing preferential VAT on delicacies

The abolition of the value added tax (VAT) benefit on gourmet foods, which would involve raising its rate from 10 to 22 percent, would result in approximately six billion rubles being received into the budget, which could make it possible to build two new schools or a children's hospital. This was stated by the Chairman of the Federation Council Valentina Matvienko, who was quoted by TASS.

The politician cited the example of VAT benefits for oysters, lobsters, langoustines and lobsters at hearings on the draft federal budget in the context of the importance of continuing work on the “inventory of tax benefits.”

“They tell us: “Well, think about it, six billion” - you won’t think about it, the chicken will peck at the grain,” Matvienko said about this, noting that “lobster lovers” will “slightly suffer” from such changes and are unlikely to notice them. She also thanked the government’s financial and economic bloc for the careful work carried out “in extremely difficult conditions” and the attentive attitude of its representatives to the senators’ proposals.