MOSCOW, November 13, 2007 Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents information concerning the level of awareness that the Russians possess as far as the ending date of the simplified procedure of declaring previous years' income (the tax amnesty).

More than half of Russians (58%), participating in the survey, do not even know anything about the tax amnesty being carried out at the moment. One third of respondents (33%) have heard something about it, but do not know the details. And no more than 6% of respondents confidently reply, that they possess enough information on the issue.

More than a third of respondents - 38% - expect, that results brought by the tax amnesty, are most likely, not going to be positive. However, another 27% of respondents believe, that, they most likely will be. And 35% find it difficult to provide an estimation of results that the tax amnesty declared by the government might bring about.

One fourth of respondents (27%) assume that the tax amnesty is aimed at anyone who conceals his/her incomes and property from the state. 18% consider, that it is being carried out for the sake of officials who conceal their incomes and property from the state. Approximately as many respondents (17%) mention businessmen who do not pay taxes from incomes of their enterprises as the object for the tax amnesty. A tenth of respondents (10%) believe that it is for companies which pay out the salary to their employees "in envelopes". And only 8% of respondents think that the tax amnesty is carried out for the sake of common people who are not paying income taxes. However, 20% of respondents find it difficult to name the categories of citizens which the tax amnesty is directed at.

In order to let the people who have previously concealed their received incomes, proclaim them, wide coverage of the given program in mass media is necessary (as 19% of respondents identify); there should be no penalties, fines or additional payment for the transaction (18%); should not apply criminal sanctions (14%); the transaction should be kept secret (11%). 27% of respondents assume that a complex of all these measures is necessary. 28% find it difficult to provide an estimation.

As far as the duration is concerned, half of the respondents (48%) think that the duration of the tax amnesty was quite adequate. On the contrary, a fourth of respondents find that people were given too little time, whereas 28% of respondents find it hard to provide an estimation.

The All-Russia opinion poll was conducted by VCIOM in November 3-4, 2007. 1579 respondents were interviewed in 153 population areas of 46 regions of Russia. The statistical error does not exceed 3.4%.