54-FZ: Are You Ready?

To operate legally in Russia, businesses must not only register as an LLC or sole proprietorship and obtain licenses but also connect cash register equipment to transmit data to the Federal Tax Service under Federal Law 54.

What is Federal Law 54 on cash register equipment?

Just reading the title is daunting:

Federal Law No. 290-FZ of July 3, 2016, "On Amendments to the Federal Law 'On the Use of Cash Register Equipment for Cash Payments and/or Payments Using Payment Cards' and Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation"

But it’s simple: the law requires all businesses to adopt new cash register protocols. It covers all cash and non-cash transactions, including prepayments, trade-ins, and loans.

Why does 54-FZ exist?

  • Track revenue
  • Reduce tax audits
  • Protect consumers
  • Save time

What must cash registers do under the law?

  • Email receipt copies to customers
  • Transmit data to OFD (Fiscal Data Operator) at payment
  • Work with fiscal drives
  • Generate extended receipts with QR codes
What is OFD?
Fiscal Data Operator (OFD)—receives encrypted receipt data from businesses and forwards it to tax authorities.

OFD responsibilities:

  • Daily receipt transmission to the FTS
  • Providing real-time fiscal data access to the FTS
  • Storing fiscal data for ≥5 years
  • Preventing data tampering
  • Enabling electronic receipt access for customers

The highlight: fines for 54-FZ violations

Fines can be issued without protocols, based on revenue earned during non-compliance. First-time offenders may get warnings, but repeat violations risk 3-month business suspensions.

For sole proprietors: from 3,000 RUB
For LLCs: from 10,000 RUB

Additional fines apply for procedural violations, e.g., shifts exceeding 24 hours.

For sole proprietors: 1,500–3,000 RUB
For LLCs: 5,000–10,000 RUB

Laws are strict—compliance is safer. How? We’ll explain in the next article ;)