The procedure for calculating taxes on alcohol imports includes several stages.
Let's look at the situation in detail.
The main points of calculating VAT and excise tax on the import of strong alcohol
1. Payment of customs duties, VAT and excise tax at border crossing:
When a company has imported a batch of strong alcohol into the territory of the Russian Federation, it needs to pay customs duties, value added tax (VAT) and excise tax directly when processing the customs declaration. The tax rates depend on the type of drink, the batch volume and the strength of the product.
- Excise tax: Excise tax is charged separately at a special rate set for each type of alcohol-containing products. The rate is indexed annually and published by the Ministry of Finance.
- VAT: Paid at a total rate of 20% of the cost of products plus the amount of accrued customs duties and excise duty.
2. The reflection of the payment of taxes in the accounting of the organization:
After customs clearance, the amounts of VAT and excise tax are recorded in the tax statements as follows:
- For VAT: The amounts of VAT paid are recorded in the purchase book and are deductible in subsequent periods in accordance with art. 171 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation. This means that the VAT paid on import reduces the total amount of obligations to the budget for this tax.
- For the excise tax: The amount of the excise tax is included in the cost of the goods and is further taken into account in the sale price to the final buyer.
3. Domestic sales of products:
When selling alcohol to domestic customers, the organization is required to charge a new VAT rate of 20%. However, since the excise tax has already been included in the purchase price, you will not need to pay it again.
The procedure for offsetting previously paid taxes:
In case of further turnover of goods within Russia, the company has the right to take into account previously paid taxes in this way:
- Specify the VAT payable to the budget by reducing the calculated amount of tax by the amount of VAT paid on import (tax deduction).
- The amount of excise tax paid becomes part of the cost of the goods sold and affects the formation of the final price.
Important recommendations:
- Check your calculations regularly with official sources.
- Keep separate records for each alcohol shipment to avoid calculation errors.
- Consult with experienced tax specialists in case of difficult situations.
