79,000 Self-Employed Individuals Registered in Moscow in the First Quarter of 2026
As of April 1, 2026, the number of people paying the tax on professional income in Moscow exceeded 2.3 million. This accounts for 14% of the total number of self-employed individuals registered in Russia, said Maria Bagreeva, Deputy Mayor of Moscow and Head of the Moscow Department of Economic Policy and Development.
“More and more Muscovites are choosing self-employment as an effective way to start their own business, pursue professional goals, and develop their skills. Self-employed professionals are actively exploring a wide range of fields, from IT services and advertising to transport logistics. In the first quarter of 2026, 79,000 new taxpayers under the professional income tax regime registered in the capital, bringing their total number to more than 2.34 million as of April 1. The growing number of self-employed individuals indicates an increase in entrepreneurial activity among Moscow’s residents and contributes to strengthening the competitiveness of the city’s economy,” Maria emphasized.
The tax on professional income is popular among people who work for themselves and do not hire employees. Its advantages include simple registration, automated reporting of income received, no requirement to file tax returns, and no need to use cash registers.
The most popular types of activity among self-employed individuals who specified their occupation when registering are passenger and freight transportation, delivery services, apartment rentals, advertising, and marketing.
In January–March 2026, Moscow taxpayers under the professional income tax regime issued 58.2 million receipts to their customers. The average receipt amount at the end of March was RUB 2,857.
In the first quarter of this year, self-employed individuals paid more than RUB 5 billion in taxes to the Moscow budget. This is almost 6% higher than in the same period in 2025. In total, since the introduction of the professional income tax regime, around RUB 65 billion in professional income tax has been transferred to the city budget.
The city supports residents who plan to develop their careers, including those choosing an entrepreneurial path. At the Professions of the Future innovative career services center at 38, Building 1, Shchepkina Street, residents can master one of 75 in-demand professions across various sectors of the economy in as little as three months. Last autumn, the center opened its own practical training facility in Pechatniki at 42, Building 8, Volgogradsky Prospekt. After completing their training, career consultants help graduates find jobs at leading companies in the city or start their own business in a new field.
At the flagship My Career center at 48 Shabolovka Street, a comprehensive support system for entrepreneurs is available. Specialists help residents assess their potential, understand the specifics of starting and running a business, prepare a business plan, register as self-employed, and find their first customers.
