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Russia Sets Tech Collection Fees: Smartphones from 250 Rubles, Laptops from 500 Rubles Starting December 2026

The Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade has proposed specific rates for a new technological collection fee that will apply to imported smartphones, laptops, and landline telephones. Payments begin on December 1, 2026, with the final amount depending on whether the device model is registered in the national marking system. Base rates are reduced by 33 percent for registered models and increased by the same margin for unregistered ones. The fees were calculated using 2025 median customs values and a 4 percent inflation target. Manufacturers and importers must pay the collection, though costs are expected to reach consumers through higher retail prices. Separate lower rates apply to corded phones with wireless handsets and basic mobile phones.

AntiMalwareTranslated from Russian

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The Russian Minpromtorg has published draft rates for a new technological collection fee covering smartphones, laptops, and various telephone devices. The obligation to pay the fee starts on 1 December 2026, and the exact amount will depend on whether a specific model is recorded in the state marking information system.

Under the proposed regulation, the base rate for a laptop is set at 746 rubles. Registered models listed in the marking system will incur a reduced fee of 500 rubles, while unregistered devices will be charged 992 rubles. The same 33 percent discount and surcharge logic applies to smartphones: 373 rubles base, 250 rubles for registered models, and 496 rubles for unregistered units.

Lower rates are established for landline equipment. Corded telephones with wireless handsets will face fees ranging from 100 to 198 rubles, ordinary mobile phones from 50 to 100 rubles, and other telephone apparatus from 25 to 49 rubles. These figures correspond to base rates of 149, 75, and 37 rubles respectively, adjusted according to registration status.

The ministry calculated the rates using the median customs value of equipment imported in 2025 together with a projected inflation target of 4 percent. Although producers and importers are formally responsible for remitting the collection, analysts expect the costs to be passed on to end consumers through increased retail prices.

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