The lawyer spoke about the legislative changes coming into effect on January 1

The coming year will bring significant changes that will affect the life of every Russian. Alexei Panfilov, head of Panfilov & Partners, lawyer, told Izvestia on December 30 what major legislative innovations will come into force on January 1.

"With the onset of 2025, the minimum wage in Russia will increase to 22,240 rubles. The Ministry of Labor estimates that the increase in the minimum wage will have a positive impact on the incomes of more than 4 million Russians. The increase will have a significant impact on the benefits that working citizens receive, in particular, maternity, vacation and sick pay," he said.

According to him, another important change - from 2025 the minimum wage will be calculated on the basis of the median wage. This will allow to equalize the level of income of citizens, will give prerequisites for the establishment of a fairer wage. According to the innovation, the minimum wage will be at least 48% of the median wage.

The increase in the minimum wage will entail the growth of the living wage, the lawyer said. Thus, the subsistence minimum in the country will amount to Br17.733, for able-bodied citizens - Br19.329, for minors - Br17.201, for citizens of retirement age - Br15.250.

A new payment for pensioners over 80 years old and disabled people of the first group is also introduced. It will amount to Br1,200 and will be indexed annually.

In addition, in 2025, one of the most significant changes will affect the tax sphere. First of all, it is the establishment of a five-stage personal income tax scale. The tax percentage will vary depending on the payer's income: 13% - income does not exceed 2.4 million rubles per year; 15% - from 2.4 to 5 million rubles; 18% - from 5 to 20 million rubles; 20% - from 20 to 50 million rubles; 22% - over 50 million rubles.

"Since 2017, a resort fee was established in certain regions of Russia. From January 1 next year, it will be replaced by a tourist tax, which will spread throughout the country. The minimum will be 100 rubles per day of stay. As for specific tariffs, they were left to the discretion of regional authorities," the expert said.

He also noted that next year the standard tax payments for the second and subsequent children will increase. The deduction for the second child will amount to Br2,800, while for the third and subsequent - Br6 thousand. For guardians, trustees and foster family of a disabled child, the deduction will increase from the current Br6 thousand to Br12 thousand.

The lawyer drew attention to the fact that in 2025 will significantly increase the size of state fees. For example, for the change of the name will have to pay Br5 thousand (Br1,600 earlier), in the dissolution of marriage without children the fee will be Br5 thousand (instead of Br650).

Also among the changes is the extension of the validity of driver's licenses.

"If a driver's license expires during 2025, it will be automatically extended for three years. This is specified in the decree of the Government of the Russian Federation № 2269 from 23.12.2023. However, it should be noted that this measure will be irrelevant for citizens who have international driver's licenses. If a driver often goes abroad and drives his own vehicle, he should replace the license, because most foreign countries do not recognize the automatic extension of the validity of the document," explained the lawyer.

Significant changes also concern social support, maternity capital. Thus, in 2025, the amount of maternity capital for the first child will be increased to 676,398 rubles, and for the second and subsequent - to 893,835 rubles. The indexation will amount to 7.3%, respectively. Usually it happens in early February. Until then, the amount of payments will be Br630 thousand at the birth of the first child and Br833 thousand - at the birth of the second. The balance of the matkapital is also indexed - if part of it has already been spent, the balance will also increase by 7.3%.

Social pension in 2025: who will receive an increase and by how much

Next year the size of the payment will exceed 15 thousand rubles

In addition, there will be changes related to loans.

"From March 1, 2025, Russians will be able to set a self-limit for consumer loans through the portal "Gosuservices". From September 1 this year, the service is already available in all MFC branches. The service is free," the expert said.

According to the current rules by January 1, 2025 the whole country should switch to unified norms of consumption of housing and communal services - this applies to apartment buildings (MFD), which are not installed meters for resource consumption - heat, gas, electricity, HTW and HTW.

"But some regions are transitioning to unified standards in stages - this helps to avoid a jump in prices for housing and utility services, as even in one subject and in one district, but in different cities can vary up to 25% difference in tariffs for housing and utility services. The different speed of transition is explained by the technical characteristics of buildings and utility infrastructure, as well as the peculiarities of the climate", - said the lawyer.

At the same time, from January 1, 2025 now management companies (MC) will report to the owners under new rules. In particular, there will be a single form of annual report and differentiated standards of management of apartment buildings. As a result, it will be easier for owners to understand what the MC spent their funds on.

"Also on July 1, 2025, another increase in the cost of utilities is expected in Russia. The government has approved the indices of changes in fees. Regions are guided by them when raising tariffs," - concluded Panfilov.

Earlier, on December 5, a member of the State Duma Committee on Labor, Social Policy and Veterans Affairs Svetlana Bessarab said that in 2025 all pensions in Russia will be indexed by 14.75%. The increase in payments will take place from April 1, 2025.