The Russian oil company YUKOS has paid RUR 75bn (about $2.53bn) out of its RUR 99.4bn (about $3.4bn) tax debt for 2000

The Russian oil company YUKOS has paid RUR 75bn (about $2.53bn) out of its RUR 99.4bn (about $3.4bn) tax debt for 2000, said Andrey Belyakov, Deputy Chief Court Bailiff of Russia and Director of the Russian Justice Ministry’s Court Bailiffs Department. Meanwhile, the Tax Ministry has further claims against the oil group. The Arbitration Court of Moscow is opening hearings on the Tax Ministry’s RUR 40.6bn tax demand against YUKOS for 2001. On March 16, Deputy Tax Minister Igor Golikov signed a decree on the repeat tax inspection of YUKOS for 2001. Tax officials carried out the inspection in March-June, and the findings were submitted to YUKOS on June 30. On September 2, the Tax Ministry decided to claim an additional RUR 50.7bn in unpaid taxes from YUKOS for 2001, plus RUR 28.7bn in interest and RUR 40.6 in fines. The Tax Ministry plans to claim RUR 40.6bn through the Arbitration Court of Moscow, and collect another RUR 80bn without recourse to court proceedings. The Tax Ministry accuses YUKOS of conducting its oil operations through organizations set up for the purpose of evading taxes in territories with preferential tax treatment. In 2001, YUKOS, acting through six shell companies in the Republic of Mordovia and two such companies in the Evenkiisky Autonomous District and the city of Baikonur, reduced its VAT, profit and property and road tax rates. In the estimation of the Tax Ministry, YUKOS built a tax evasion scheme using 19 companies.