Pay Your Russian Taxes Guilt-Free: New Sanctions License Issued
Published Date: 1/20/2026
Rule
Summary
The U.S. Treasury just made it official: U.S. people and companies can keep paying certain taxes, fees, and get permits in Russia for their usual business until January 9, 2026. This update replaces an older license and helps folks avoid breaking sanctions while doing everyday stuff in Russia. But watch out—some financial moves with Russia’s big banks are still off-limits!
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Routine Russia Business Payments Allowed
If you are a U.S. person or an entity owned or controlled by a U.S. person doing business in Russia, you are authorized to pay taxes, fees, and import duties and to purchase or receive permits, licenses, registrations, certifications, or tax refunds that would otherwise be prohibited by Directive 4. This authorization applies only to transactions that are ordinarily incident and necessary to day-to-day operations in the Russian Federation and is valid through 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time, January 9, 2026.
No Authorization to Deal With Blocked Persons
GL 13O does not authorize any transactions otherwise prohibited by the Russian Harmful Foreign Activities Sanctions Regulations (31 CFR part 587), including transactions involving any person blocked under those regulations. You cannot rely on this license to transact with blocked persons unless you have a separate authorization.
Debits to Russian Central Bank Accounts Prohibited
This general license does not allow any debit to an account on the books of a U.S. financial institution belonging to the Central Bank of the Russian Federation, the National Wealth Fund of the Russian Federation, or the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation. That prohibition remains in place despite the other authorizations in GL 13O (effective September 29, 2025).
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