Abolition of most repatriation requirements for foreign trade contracts

27.07.2021

On 28.06.2021 Federal Law N 223-FZ “On Amendments to the Federal Law “On Currency Regulation and Currency Control” was adopted, which abolished most repatriation requirements. The law entered into force on 01.07.2021.

Essence of the changes

Residents are in fact exempt from the requirement to receive revenue from non-residents in foreign currency on the accounts opened with Russian banks when the amount of obligations is also in foreign currency for:

  • Goods transferred to non-residents, except for certain commodities;
  • Works and services performed for non-residents;
  • Information transferred to non-residents, as well as the results of intellectual activity, including exclusive rights on them.

In addition, residents are allowed to credit revenue on their foreign accounts.

Reminder: the abolition of repatriation for fully rouble contracts (debt currency and payment currency – roubles) was previously introduced from 01.01.2020, as we wrote about here.

Repatriation requirements which still remain

It is important to note that certain repatriation requirements are still relevant for the following cases:

  • Refund of advances paid by residents to non-residents under foreign trade contracts (for goods, works or services).
  • Repayment of issued loans under contracts on the basis of which a resident has granted a loan to a non-resident.

Reminder: fines for non-repatriation were previously significantly reduced, as we wrote about here.

Entry of the law into force

The abolition of repatriation will affect new contracts as well as contracts concluded before 01.07.2021, if payment obligations in foreign currency under them have not been fulfilled.

What these changes mean for business

The introduction of these amendments opens up the possibility of renegotiating existing obligations with foreign counterparties, which can now be terminated by offsetting of mutual claims. Other methods of termination of obligations under civil law may also be used.