Scrap collection for cars from the EAEU will be recalculated according to a new formula from April 1.

Russia is preparing to adjust the mechanism for calculating the recycling fee for cars that are imported into the country through the EAEU states. According to the plan, the changes will be applied from April 1, 2026, after the completion of the discussion of the draft and the approval of the document.

The key idea is to align the terms of payment of scrap collection for cars that "enter" the Russian Federation from the countries of the union, primarily in the segment of supplies through individuals. The Ministry of Industry and Trade explicitly outlined the motivation:
"In order to equalize the terms of payment for scrap collection for vehicles imported from the territory of the EAEU member states, the draft resolution proposes to extend the formula used to calculate the amount of scrap collection to cars imported by private individuals," the Ministry of Industry and Trade noted.

In practice, this is a blow to schemes where savings appeared due to differences in approaches to customs value and payments at the initial registration in one of the EAEU countries. The logic of the adjustment is simple: if the cost was underestimated at the first stage, then the "difference" ceases to be a source of benefit — it will be taken into account in the calculation of scrap collection already when the car is delivered to the Russian Federation. As a result, the market is being pushed towards a more even competition: the winner will not be the one who has found a loophole in the registration, but the one who honestly collects the documents and correctly confirms the cost.

Separately, the agency clarifies an important detail for legal entities and "intra-union" machines.:
"At the same time, taking into account the current procedure for paying indirect taxes on cars manufactured in the territory of the EAEU and imported into the Russian Federation by legal entities, the amounts of indirect taxes paid will not be taken into account when calculating the scrap collection, the Ministry of Industry and Trade adds." 

This reduces the risk of double counting of payments and shows that the setup is aimed specifically at "gray" gaps, and not at a mechanical increase in the cost of all supplies.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade separately emphasizes:
"These changes are an element of consistent work to create transparent import conditions that ensure the correct payment of all customs and tax payments without using bypass schemes," the ministry said. 

And adds more details.:
"At the moment, when processing imported cars imported into the Russian Federation through the EAEU countries, there have been a number of cases of significant underestimation of the customs value of a vehicle, as well as the use of various schemes to reduce payments due (in particular, when processing such cars through a TPO, rather than through a customs declaration). Amendments to Resolution No. 1291 related to the distribution of a single formula for calculating the recycling fee are aimed at eliminating such cases. Previously, this approach has already been applied to cars imported into the EAEU by legal entities. It is planned to extend it to the import of individuals. At the same time, the proposed solution will not affect those importers who knowingly state the correct customs value of the car in the import documents," the Ministry of Industry and Trade further clarifies.

This has several practical implications for foreign economic activity and logistics. Firstly, the value of a "clean" documentary outline will increase: the contract, invoice, payments, proof of origin and proper registration will directly affect the final fiscal burden. Secondly, the attractiveness of routes will decrease, where previously the "economy" was based on the difference in initial payments, which means that traffic flows and demand for intermediary services may be redistributed. Third, bona fide importers will have a chance for more predictable pricing: less dumping by those who built the model on circumvention mechanisms.