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A survey reported by Forbes Russia found that 46.9% of Russian companies do not plan to pay year-end bonuses in 2026. More than a third said they are skipping bonuses this year after paying them in 2025, with weaker financial results the most commonly cited reason.
Nearly half of Russian companies surveyed do not plan to pay employees year-end bonuses in 2026, according to findings from accounting publication Aktion Bukhgalteriya reported by Forbes Russia. The survey found that 36.2% are forgoing bonuses this year despite paying them a year earlier, as businesses cite weaker financial results and rising costs.
Aktion Bukhgalteriya surveyed 1,076 companies across Russia. In total, 46.9% said they do not plan to pay end-of-year bonuses. A further 20.4% have postponed a decision indefinitely, leaving their plans unresolved. The report does not specify when those companies might decide.
Among respondents, 22.3% said they would pay bonuses to all employees, while 10.4% planned to reward only some staff. The figures describe companies’ stated plans, not the share of workers who will receive bonuses or the final payments made by year-end.
The most frequently cited reason for skipping bonuses was a decline in this year’s financial results, named by 56.9% of respondents. Another 8.8% pointed to taxes and insurance contributions. The survey report did not provide a breakdown of responses by company size, industry or region.
Bonus Cuts Reflect Cost Pressure
The findings point to pressure on businesses’ ability to make discretionary payments at a time when many are reporting weaker results. For employees, an annual bonus can form part of expected income; for companies, withdrawing it may be one way to limit spending when revenue, borrowing costs and operating expenses are under strain.
Aktion Bukhgalteriya said employees of small businesses may be hit hardest, because bonus decisions there are more likely to depend on one person’s judgment and the company’s current revenue. The report says larger firms are more likely to have financial reserves and formal bonus programs, which could help them continue payments. These are the publication’s characterizations; the survey figures provided do not quantify the difference in payment rates by company size.
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Tax and Financing Pressures
The report links the bonus plans to a broader rise in business costs. Russia’s corporate profit tax increased from 20% to 25% in 2025. The value-added tax rose from 20% to 22% starting in 2026, and the threshold for qualifying for the simplified tax system was lowered, according to the source material.
Experts cited in the report also point to weak demand, a high key interest rate that makes borrowing more expensive, and rising production costs. Together, these factors can squeeze profitability and lead companies to cut spending. The survey does not isolate the effect of any one tax or economic condition on bonus decisions.
“A decline in this year’s financial results was named by 56.9% of survey respondents as the leading reason for skipping bonuses.”
— Aktion Bukhgalteriya, as reported by Forbes Russia
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Final Payments Remain Unsettled
The survey records companies’ plans, so it does not establish how many will ultimately pay bonuses before the year ends. Another 20.4% have deferred their decision indefinitely, and the report gives no timetable for those firms to resolve it.
It is also unclear how the stated plans vary by industry, location or workforce size, and how many employees would be affected. The source material does not give the survey’s fieldwork dates or the wording and response options for each question, limiting what can be inferred from the percentages.
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Alternative Rewards May Expand
Some companies may replace annual payouts with quarterly bonuses, paid training or non-monetary incentives, experts said, in an effort to avoid accumulating financial obligations by December. The report does not name firms that have adopted these alternatives or estimate how common they may become.
The clearest next measure will be whether companies that deferred decisions announce plans and whether those that intend to pay bonuses follow through by year-end. The survey provides a snapshot of current intentions; final payment figures are not yet available.
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Key Questions
How many Russian companies plan to skip year-end bonuses in 2026?
46.9% of surveyed companies said they do not plan to pay year-end bonuses. Within that total, 36.2% said they are forgoing bonuses this year after paying them in 2025.
How many companies are still deciding?
20.4% have postponed their decision indefinitely, according to the survey. The report does not say when they might decide.
Why are companies skipping bonuses?
Weaker financial results were the most commonly cited reason, named by 56.9% of respondents. Another 8.8% cited taxes and insurance contributions. The report also describes broader cost, demand and borrowing pressures.
Are all employees at smaller firms expected to lose bonuses?
No such company-by-company or employee breakdown is provided. Aktion Bukhgalteriya said small-business employees may be hit hardest, but the survey figures supplied do not show what share of small firms will pay bonuses.
Could companies offer other rewards instead?
Experts cited in the report said some firms may use quarterly bonuses, paid training or non-monetary incentives. The report does not say how many companies plan to do so.
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