In December, the bill on the introduction of a universal payment QR code and the digital ruble was re-submitted to the State Duma with clarifications to its provisions. The new version of the document is significantly more detailed and includes proposals from various departments. This bill will be considered in the spring session of parliament, and if adopted, some of its articles will come into force as early as July 2025.
Deputies also specified the provisions of the bill, adding basic definitions and launch dates, Vedomosti reports.
According to the bill, JSC "National Payment Card System" (NSPK) is approved as the operator of services for providing a universal QR code. The organization will be obliged to approve the rules for its use, as well as provide services to banks, payment platforms and agents. Special attention is paid to the need to ensure the immutability of data on transfers so that money reaches the recipient without errors and losses. The universal payment code will allow using programs on the payer's device to read data and receive details for transferring money, both directly and via a link.
From January 1, 2026, banks will be required to provide customers with information about transfer details via this code. Operators accepting electronic payments will have to ensure the use of this code in all their software and hardware. In addition, banks will be required to provide the possibility of conducting transactions with the digital ruble. For 13 systemically important organizations, this measure will come into force as early as July 2025, for those with a universal license - until July 2026, and for the rest - no later than July 1, 2027.
It is assumed that the universal QR code will also be used to transfer digital rubles not only to legal entities or individual entrepreneurs, but also to self-employed, private notaries, lawyers, mediators and other categories. Sellers, contractors and owners of aggregators will be required to provide the possibility of payment using the digital ruble.
From July 2025 to July 2026, this obligation will apply to sellers with revenue of 30 million rubles or more. For enterprises and contractors with revenue of 20 million rubles or more, the deadline was postponed to July 1, 2026, and for the rest - to July 1, 2027. If the place of payment for goods, works or services is in an area without mobile communication or the Internet, the seller or contractor may not provide the possibility of payment with digital rubles.
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