MOSCOW - Actual revenues of the Russian federal budget were RUR 12bn (about $394.35m) above the planned levels in September 2003, according to the Russian Finance Ministry.

In particular, actual revenues collected by the Tax Ministry were RUR 2.41bn (about $79m) more than planned, and revenues from the single social tax were RUR 840m ($27.6m) above plan. Revenues collected by other finance agencies totaled RUR 10.5bn (about $345m).

At the same time, the federal budget did not receive RUR 590m from the State Fishing Committee, RUR 570m – from the Finance Ministry and other government agencies, RUR 400m – from the State Property Ministry, and RUR 220m – from the Atomic Ministry.

Federal budget revenues totaled RUR 1.63 trillion (about $53.65bn) in January-September 2003 (revenues from the single social tax not taken into account), which is 16.9 percent of the GDP.

Budget financing amounted to RUR 1.77 trillion (about $58.22bn) in January-September 2003, according to preliminary estimates, 95.7 percent of the revised target for this period, including RUR 204.2bn in September (89.2 percent of the revised target).

Meanwhile, tax arrears increased by RUR 5bn (about $164.31m) in July 2003 and reached RUR 503.8bn (about $16.56bn) as of August 1, 2003, according to the State Statistics Committee.

This is 11 percent lower compared with August 1, 2002. In particular, arrears in the payment of the profit tax decreased by 22.3 percent, arrears in the payment of the value added tax – by 4.2 percent, and arrears in excise payments dropped by 54.7 percent, including a 89.6 percent decrease in the arrears of payments for natural gas.

The consolidated budget did not receive RUR 204.9bn (about $6.73bn) in tax revenues as of August 1, 2003. This is 19.7 percent less compared with August 1, 2002. In particular, arrears in the payment of the profit tax decreased by 22.3 percent, arrears in the payment of the value added tax decreased by 16.6 percent, and arrears in excise payments dropped by 32.6 percent.