FTS clarifies: overpayment on the Unified Tax Account reduces penalties when filing an amended return with additional payment
The Federal Tax Service of Russia has clarified the rules for calculating penalties when filing amended tax returns with additional payments after the statutory deadline. If the taxpayer has a positive balance on their Unified Tax Account (UTA) — that is, an overpayment of other taxes, fees, or insurance contributions — the penalty for late payment is reduced proportionally.
The mechanism works as follows: the penalty is calculated based on the ratio of the overpayment on the UTA to the amount of the shortfall, including accrued interest. In other words, the higher the overpayment on the account, the lower the penalty when making an additional payment.
According to the FTS, this approach reduces the fiscal burden on conscientious taxpayers who have paid taxes on time but filed an amended return with an additional payment after the deadline. The new practice is aimed at encouraging accurate and transparent tax reporting and simplifying the calculation of obligations through the UTA.
