Vocabulary List

compulsory – обязательный

body of persons – группа лиц

public authority – орган власти

defence – оборона

generate – производить

progressive – прогрессивный

proportional – пропорциональный

regressive – регрессивный

impose – вводить

pressure – давление

argue (for) – приводить доводы в пользу

link – связь

specific – конкретный

particular – отдельный

motorist – автомобилист

while – в то время как

alcohol – алкогольный напиток

tobacco – табак

National health service – Национальная система здравоохранения

match – увязывать

principle – принцип

equitable – справедливый

incentive – стимул

avoid taxes – избегать уплаты налогов

tax allowance – налоговая льгота

tax exemption – налоговое освобождение

Task 2. Comprehension questions

1. What definition of taxes is given in the text?

2. What can be taxed to raise money to finance the expenditure on defence, social services etc?

3. How are taxes classified?

4. What tax in the UK has been the major source to generate tax revenue for years?

5. How can income tax be charged?

6. How do people want governments to spend the money collected in taxes?

7. What should be the major principles of a tax system?

Task 3. Find in the text English equivalents for the following Russian words and phrases:

• налоги – это обязательные платежи

• расходы органов власти

• налогообложение дохода, богатства или потребления

• финансировать расходы на оборону, социальные услуги, муниципальные услуги

• прямой налог

• подоходный налог

• источник для получения налоговых доходов

• прогрессивный налог

• вводить налоги

• НДС

• акцизы

• непосредственная связь

• конкретные налоги

• основные принципы налоговой системы

• справедливый и разумный

• уклоняться от уплаты налогов

• система сбора налогов

• налоговые льготы и освобождения

Task 4. Match the infinitives in A with the nouns in B.

A B

to tax allowance and exemptions

to finance income

to impose defence

to generate expenditure

to increase money

to spend taxes

to contain tax revenues

Task 5. a). Read the text and translate it into Russian. b). Say what you know about taxation in Russia.

The Federal Tax Service in Russia is a relatively new organization but its role is becoming very important because the private sector is developing fast.

Taxation is the most important factor in implementing economic reforms.

The Russian Government is trying to lower the tax burden and to simplify the tax system.

For example, the government departed from the progressive income tax system and introduced a flat income tax which individuals pay at a 13% rate irrespective of the income.

There are plans to reduce profit tax and VAT. The government is going to eliminate some tax allowances and exemptions.

Words and word combinations you may need

tax burden – налоговое бремя

simplify – упрощать

depart from – отходить от чего-либо

flat income tax – единый подоходный налог

irrespective of – вне зависимости от …

at a rate – по ставке

eliminate – отменять, уничтожать

Task 6. Write verbs and nouns which are frequently used with the word “taxes”, compare the list with your partner’s list.

Task 7. Read the interview with the financier and sum up his assessment of the situation with the budget.

Interviewer: The work of the draft budget is over and it has been submitted to the Government for consideration. How do you assess the draft?

Financier: I like the budget. It provides for a surplus.

Int.: It’s great. But don’t you foresee problems with servicing the foreign debt?

F.: No, the debt will be repaid under the schedule. We have reserves for that.

Int.: I see. You mean money from privatization, from the sale of oil and other raw materials, don’t you?

F.: Yes, you are right. First of all, I mean export receipts from foreign economic activity. But then, I’d like to stress, we are learning to manage the federal budget expenditure better.

Int.: The Treasury contributes to that, doesn’t it?

F.: Yes, it does.

Int.: Let’s hope the draft will be passed in four readings by the 1^st of January.

F.: Let’s hope the legislative branch adopts the budget without delay.

Int.: How is the budget for this year being implemented?

F.: It’s being implemented according to the approved appropriations. Though spendings on health, education and science have been increased, personal incomes have gone up too, I mean wages and pensions. There is no deficit.

Int.: It’s nice to hear that but as far as I know, administrative spendings have gone up.

F.: Yes, you are right. It’s a problem.

Words and word combinations you may need

assess – оценивать

provide for – предусматривать

surplus – профицит

foresee – предвидеть

debt – долг

export receipts – экспортные поступления

manage – управлять

treasury – казначейство

legislative branch – законодательная ветвь власти

approved appropriations – утвержденные ассигнования

personal incomes – доходы населения

deficit – дефицит

Task 8. Say/write what you know about “the budget”, the Russian budget and its adoption procedure.