Evaluating the Impact of Russian Excise Duty on Oil Products on the Development of Oil Refining and Oil Industry

Abstract

The article analyzes the impact of excise duty on oil products in increasing the oil refining depth in Russia. A retrospective analysis of changes in the excisable goods types and the excise duty on oil products rate dynamics from 2001 to 2020 was carried out, which allowed for evaluation of the dominant state fiscal interests or economic incentives for the oil refining development through excise taxation in the different periods of the newest economic history of Russia. The Russian oil refining excise taxation has undergone the most robust transformation three times-in 2007, 2014 and 2016. Moreover, in each case, the prerequisites for radical changes were different: in 2007, the fight against aggressive tax optimization and stimulation of technical re-equipment of refineries; in 2014, a massive tax maneuver in oil production; in 2016, fine-tuning of the excise taxation based on the results tax maneuver and the need to adapt to Russia's membership in the WTO and integration formations. The analysis showed that often the stated goals of stimulating the development of the oil refining and petrochemical industries were devalued by the dominant state fiscal interests as a result of changes in the economic situation.