What will change for Russians in 2026
In 2026, Russians expect a number of changes that will affect various spheres of life, from financial support for families to taxation and pension payments. Basic pension indexations will be carried out, new tax incentives for families with children and other measures aimed at improving the standard of living of citizens will be introduced. For more information about which innovations will take effect and how they will affect everyday life, see the Izvestia article.
Increase in insurance, social and military pensions
In 2026, several stages of increased payments are planned for different categories of pensioners. Thus, starting from January 1, the insurance pension will be indexed by 7.6%. The cost of one pension coefficient (CPI) will increase to 156.76 rubles, and the fixed allowance from the state will amount to 9584.69 rubles. The increase will affect both working and non-working pensioners.
In addition, people who turn 80 in 2026, as well as citizens with the first disability group, will be eligible for a double portion of a fixed pension.
From April 1, it is planned to index the social pension by 6.8%, after which its base amount will be 9424.12 rubles. This will lead to an increase in all payments that are calculated based on the size of the social pension.
Starting from October 1, military pensions are expected to increase by 4%. At the same time, the reduction coefficient in 2026 will remain the same — 93.59%, the indexation of monetary allowances has been suspended until January 1, 2027.
Indexation of the subsistence minimum and minimum wage
In 2026, it is planned to significantly increase key social indicators, on which the amount of payments and incomes of citizens depend. Starting from January 1, the cost of living per capita will increase to 18,939 rubles. For the able—bodied population, it will amount to 20,644 rubles, for children — 18,371 rubles, and for pensioners - 16,288 rubles. At the same time, in the regions, the minimum subsistence level may differ from the federal values.
Also, starting from January 1, the minimum wage will increase. The minimum wage will be set at 27,093 rubles and will be valid throughout Russia. It cannot be lower than the regional subsistence level and directly affects the amount of wages, benefits and social benefits, as well as the calculation of insurance premiums and alimony.
Maternity capital
Starting from February 1, 2026, the maternity capital will be indexed by 6.8%. After the increase, its amount for the first child will be approximately 737.2 thousand rubles, and the payment for the second child will approach the one million rubles mark. The exact amounts will be published at the beginning of the year.
The indexation is provided for by the federal budget law and will affect not only new certificates, but also the unused balance of funds. Maternity capital can still be used to improve housing conditions, pay for children's education, or form the funded part of a pension.
Child care allowance for up to 1.5 years
In 2026, the minimum child care allowance for up to one and a half years will be increased following an increase in the minimum wage. The minimum payment (about 10.7 thousand rubles) is received by women who have not been officially employed, students, as well as employees with insurance experience of less than six months. The maximum payout will be approximately 80 thousand rubles.
In addition, based on the minimum wage in 2026, maternity payments will be calculated for citizens who have signed a voluntary insurance contract with the Social Fund of Russia. This category includes individual entrepreneurs, lawyers, and other self-employed professionals who have paid insurance premiums.
Uniform allowance and the "8 Minimum wage" rule
Starting in 2026, when assigning a single child benefit, the "8 minimum wage" rule for able-bodied family members begins to apply. If the income of each adult family member for the billing period is below this threshold, the payment may be refused. The corresponding requirement is fixed by the decree of the Government of the Russian Federation dated November 28, 2025 No. 1928.
Given that from January 1, 2026, the minimum wage is set at 27,093 rubles, the minimum annual income for each able-bodied family member should be at least 216,744 rubles. The billing period covers 12 months.
If the applicant or his family members had no income for valid reasons, this must be documented. At the same time, exceptions to this rule are provided for large families and families raising children with disabilities.
Tightening of family mortgage conditions
In 2026, the conditions of a family mortgage will become stricter, which will significantly limit the use of a preferential loan for investment purposes. The main innovation is the "one family, one preferential loan" rule, Vladimir Koshelev, first deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on Construction and Housing and Communal Services, told TASS.
Starting from February 1, 2026, only families with children under the age of six will be able to apply for a family mortgage at 6%. Families with older children will be able to purchase housing only under market mortgage programs.
In addition, both spouses are contractually obligated to act as co-borrowers. The possibility of obtaining a separate preferential loan for each of the spouses, as it was before, is canceled. It is also no longer possible to attract third-party co-borrowers.
Until February 1, 2026, it remains possible to apply for a family mortgage according to the previous rules.
Allocation of shares to children without the consent of the bank
Starting from January 1, 2026, the procedure for allocating shares to spouses and children in housing purchased with a mortgage using maternity capital funds will be simplified. It will no longer be necessary to obtain the written consent of the pledgee bank.
Parents will be able to arrange common ownership after repayment of the mortgage loan or even before its complete closure without additional approvals from the credit institution. The changes are fixed by Federal Law No. 195 of July 7, 2025.
At the same time, the rule about securing an apartment from a bank until the loan is fully repaid remains in place.
New conditions for Far Eastern and Arctic mortgages
In 2026, the possibilities of preferential Far Eastern and Arctic mortgages will be expanded. The interest rate under the program will remain at 2%, but the maximum loan amount will increase to 9 million rubles for the purchase or construction of a house with an area of more than 60 square meters. m and up to 6 million rubles — for the purchase of an apartment.
The conditions of participation in the program will become more accessible for large families. Age restrictions for parents are lifted if the third child was born after January 1, 2024. Previously, only young families with parents under 35 years of age could take advantage of a preferential mortgage.
New rules for payment of housing and communal services
Starting from March 1, 2026, the payment terms for utilities will change in Russia. The deadline for making payments will be postponed to the 15th day of the month following the settlement date. Previously, the deadline was on the 25th.
The relevant amendments were introduced into the Housing Code of the Russian Federation by Federal Law No. 177 of June 24, 2025. The new rules are aimed at improving consumer payment discipline.
Late payment penalties will start accruing on the 16th at the rate of 1/130 of the key rate of the Bank of Russia for each day of delay. The deadline for submitting payment documents is also changing. Starting in 2026, they must be sent no later than the 5th day of the month following the settlement, instead of the previously valid 1st day.
New licensing requirements for management companies
Starting from September 1, 2026, the licensing procedure for management companies managing apartment buildings will change. From now on, licenses will be issued directly by the state housing supervision authorities, rather than by the licensing commissions of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation.
The deadline for reviewing applications will be reduced from 30 to 10 business days. At the same time, for gross violations, the management company will be able to revoke its license without the right to restore it.
Additional requirements are also being introduced for the personnel of management organizations. Each company must have a qualified engineer, accountant, and its own 24-hour emergency dispatch service on a permanent basis. These norms are fixed by Federal Law No. 375 of October 15, 2025.
Increase in tax deductions for long-term savings products
Starting from September 1, 2026, the amount of personal income tax deduction for long-term savings products, such as the IIS-3, the long-term savings program (RPS), non-governmental pension provision (NGO) and others, will increase. If parents make contributions on these products for the benefit of their children, the deduction limit for each parent increases from 400 thousand to 500 thousand rubles. Thus, the maximum deduction amount for a family can reach 1 million rubles.
The right to an increased deduction is provided that the child's age does not exceed 18 years, and for full—time education - 24 years. The mechanism for calculating the deduction remains the same, but the limit is expanded only through contributions made in favor of the child.
The procedure for taxation of payments under the PDS is also being clarified. They will be subject to personal income tax at rates of 13 or 15%, depending on the size of the tax base. Progressive rates of 18-22% will not be applied. Thus, the taxation regime of personal income tax is equivalent to the current rates for insurance payments, pension provision, as well as income from transactions with securities and derivative financial instruments on individual investment accounts.
Additionally, the rules for accounting for employer contributions have been established as part of the tax changes. Contributions under the PDS will be included in the employer's expenses within 12% of the wage fund, while amounts within these limits will not be subject to insurance premiums per individual employee for the relevant billing period.
Electronic real estate transactions using biometrics
Starting from July 1, 2026, some real estate transactions can be processed electronically using biometric data, the Ministry of Finance reported. To do this, the parties to the agreement submit an application to Rosreestr through the Gosuslugi portal or other electronic platforms, sign it with an enhanced qualified electronic signature and confirm their identity through a Single Biometric System.
Identification will be based on a face image or a voice sample. If there is a biometric confirmation, an additional notification to Rosreestr about consent to the electronic format of the transaction will no longer be required.
The innovation will simplify the processing of transactions for citizens located in different regions of the country. The relevant amendments were introduced by Federal Law No. 133 of June 7, 2025 to the law "On State Registration of Real Estate".
New rules for the provision of installments
Starting from April 1, 2026, new rules for installment services, including popular BNPL services, will come into effect in Russia. They are provided for by the law "On activities related to the provision of installment payment services" adopted in June 2025. The key change is that when buying an item in installments, its cost should be the same as for a one-time payment. In addition, the law prohibits any hidden fees and additional payments.
The new rules also provide for the possibility of early repayment of debt at any time without fines and commissions. At the same time, installment payment terms are limited: from April 1, 2026, it cannot exceed six months, and from April 1, 2028 — four months.
For violation of installment payment obligations, a maximum penalty is imposed — no more than 20% per annum of the user's overdue debt.
Special attention is paid to the transparency of such obligations. Installment agreements in the amount of 50 thousand rubles or more will be transferred to credit bureaus and reflected in the credit history. Banks and microfinance organizations will be able to take these data into account when considering applications for loans.
However, the new requirements apply only to cases where installments are provided by a specialized online installment payment service. They do not affect situations where installments are offered by the seller himself, for example, a housing developer, and they also do not apply to loans and loans at points of sale and installment cards.
Prohibition on automatic debit of funds from cards
Starting from March 1, 2026, online services will not be able to automatically debit money from a user's bank card if they have previously prohibited such operations to pay for subscription services from a specific card. The new rules are aimed at strengthening citizens' control over regular payments and protecting them from unwanted write-offs. The relevant amendments to the law "On Consumer Rights Protection" were adopted in October 2025.
The law may apply to various popular online services, including online cinemas and music platforms, as well as gaming services and mobile applications with subscriptions and premium features.
In addition, restrictions may apply to educational platforms and language applications with monthly fees, as well as marketplaces and delivery services that use auto-renewal of subscriptions, such as paid delivery or loyalty programs.
However, the new rules do not apply to cases where the user pays for services manually each time, such payments will still be possible without restrictions.
Transfer of securities between brokers via SBP
Starting from September 1, 2026, the procedure for transferring securities between brokers will be simplified in Russia. Through the Fast Payment System (SBP), investors will be able to transfer Russian stocks and bonds available to unqualified investors from one broker or management company to another.
Previously, in order to transfer assets, an investor had to independently receive a package of documents from the current broker and transfer it to a new professional participant. As a rule, this procedure required personal visits to offices and took a considerable amount of time. The introduction of a transfer through the SBP will allow such transactions to be carried out electronically, shorten the time and make the process more convenient for private investors.
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