What has changed since January 1, 2026: key legislative innovations

1 January 2026, Thursday

Important legislative changes came into effect on January 1, 2026, affecting pensioners, low-income families, and motorists. We'll cover the key changes.

Pensions and Social Benefits

• Starting January 1, 2026, old-age insurance pensions will be indexed by 7.6%. The average pension for non-working pensioners will exceed 27,000 rubles.
• A new federal subsistence minimum has been established: 18,939 rubles per capita (+6.8% compared to 2025). 

- For the working-age population: 20,644 rubles
- For pensioners: 16,288 rubles
- For children: 18,371 rubles

Income and Taxes

• The minimum wage has been increased to 27,093 rubles in 2026.
• The base VAT rate has been raised from 20% to 22%. The preferential 10% rate has been retained for socially significant goods, such as food, medicine, medical supplies, children's products, and others.
• A family tax payment has been introduced - a refund of a portion of the personal income tax paid for low-income families with children.

For drivers and pedestrians

• Starting in 2026, more than 60 new road signs and plaques will be introduced, aimed at improving safety, regulating the movement of personal mobility vehicles, and managing traffic in complex urban environments.
• Automatic driver's license renewal has been discontinued. Effective January 1, 2026, licenses will be renewed according to the standard procedure - every 10 years.

Photo: AI generated.