Large-scale reforms await Russian marketplaces: refunds, commissions, and integration with government registers

In 2026, the marketplace market may face the most noticeable changes in recent years — the government has announced a course to strengthen regulation and introduce mandatory integrations with key information systems. This was announced by Maxim Reshetnikov, Minister of Economic Development, at the Day of the Platform Economy, outlining the main areas of work: combating abuse in returns, increasing the transparency of commodity information and the interaction of platforms with state registries.

Returns of goods at pick-up points are recognized as one of the most problematic areas, where in some cases employees make refunds practically without checking the condition of the goods. The Minister noted that this practice leads to direct losses for sellers, and ultimately to an increase in retail prices for buyers. According to the owners of pick-up points, fines and deductions can reach 10-15% of income and create a real financial burden on entrepreneurs working in the offline marketplaces.

Another important issue is the size of the platforms' commissions, which is causing growing discontent among sellers. The presidential administration believes that a new settlement model is needed to ensure transparency of the cost of site services. Some sellers claim that the commission share in the final cost of goods on a number of items can reach 50-60%, which actually reduces margins and limits the development of small businesses.

At the same time, the technological part of regulation is being discussed — marketplaces should be integrated with about ten government digital systems, including databases related to certification, permits and product safety checks. Representatives of large platforms note that many elements of this work are already underway, but further automation and standardization of procedures are required, especially for imported products and goods from foreign sellers.

Experts assess these changes as a logical stage in the development of e—commerce, primarily in terms of consumer protection, combating counterfeiting and increasing transparency in data turnover. At the same time, the market expects a well-developed transition policy and mechanisms that will not slow down the turnover of goods and will not lead to an additional burden on the business.