Many individual entrepreneurs (IEs) keep free funds in deposits without thinking about taxes. But the same deposit can be taxed differently depending on details that are often learned after the fact. Let's break down when deposit interest was subject to the Simplified Tax System (STS), when to Personal Income Tax (PIT), and what changes in 2026.

📌 What is interest income for an IE

When an entrepreneur places money in a bank deposit, the bank pays interest for the use of the funds.

It is important to understand the difference:

• revenue from goods and services — income from entrepreneurial activity
• deposit interest — passive income from placing funds

Formally, interest is not related to commercial operations, but the taxation procedure depends on who the deposit is registered to and when the income is accrued.

🏦 If the deposit is registered to an IE and the STS is applied (as before)

Before the rule change, interest on IE deposits was included in STS income.

The scheme looked like this:

• deposit opened on the IE's current account
• bank accrues interest
• amount included in the Income and Expense Ledger
• tax paid at the STS rate

STS "Income" — 6%
STS "Income minus expenses" — 15%

This practice was in effect for many years, and entrepreneurs often used deposits to store working capital.

🔄 What changes in 2026

From January 1, 2026, the approach to taxing interest income changes. Interest on IE deposits is no longer considered income from entrepreneurial activity. It is taxed exclusively under PIT rules, regardless of whether the deposit is used within the business or not.

📊 PIT rates and limits

Information on accrued interest for the year is automatically transmitted by banks to the Federal Tax Service (FTS). The tax office sums up all interest income and compares it with the tax-exempt limit.

The tax-exempt limit is calculated as:

1,000,000 RUB × maximum key rate of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation for the year

If the total interest does not exceed the limit → no tax is payable.
If it exceeds → PIT is charged only on the excess amount.

🛍 How to account for interest for IEs on STS

Before January 1, 2026

• deposit on IE → interest included in the Income and Expense Ledger
• tax paid at the STS rate
• deposit on individual → personal income, not accounted in business

After January 1, 2026

• interest on IE deposits does not form the STS tax base
• such income is not reflected in the Income and Expense Ledger
• bank transmits data to the FTS
• tax is calculated automatically

If the deposit is opened on an individual — the procedure does not change: PIT arises only when the limit is exceeded, no declaration is required.

🎯 What is important for an entrepreneur to remember

The procedure for taxing interest income is changing. To correctly account for deposits and not overpay tax, note the key points:

• Until 2026, interest on IE deposits — STS income
• From 2026 — individual income and subject to PIT
• Deposits on individuals are always considered personal income
• Accounting becomes simpler — data is transmitted by the bank and FTS
• Before placing funds, it is important to calculate net yield: interest minus tax

If you are unsure how to account for deposit interest or whether a deposit is beneficial in your specific situation, we will help you figure it out and suggest the optimal option.

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