Starting March 1, 2026, the Ministry of Digital Development has introduced a mandatory requirement for including and maintaining software in the Russian Software Registry — compatibility with at least two trusted operating systems. Although the list of such operating systems has not yet been published, it is already important for businesses to understand the new rules and prepare for the phased tightening of controls.
Who Needs to Confirm Compatibility and When
The requirement is being introduced in stages, depending on the software type:
Deadline
Software Category
from September 1, 2026
office software
from January 1, 2027
maintenance programs, virtualization, cloud computing, data storage, server software, DBMS, analytics, monitoring, management, containerization, development tools
from June 1, 2027
application and industry-specific software, information security tools, data processing and visualization
from January 1, 2028
industrial software, organizational process management systems
Exceptions: When One OS Is Sufficient
The law provides cases where the requirement is relaxed — compatibility with one trusted OS is sufficient:
the software is used as part of a hardware and software system (HSS);
the copyright holders of the software and the operating system belong to the same group of entities.
What Happens If New Requirements Are Not Met
The consequences are severe:
the software will be removed from the Ministry of Digital Development registry;
the company will lose the right to tax benefits and the ability to account for software income under preferential regimes;
in public procurement, priority will be given to products that have confirmed compatibility.
What Rights Holders Should Do Now
1.If your software is already in the registry:
obtain compatibility certificates from trusted OS manufacturers;
if necessary, adapt the software for specific operating systems;
prepare all documents to confirm compliance.
2.If you are only planning to include software in the registry:
do not postpone submitting documents;
take new requirements into account during development and testing;
prepare for stricter controls.
Acsour experts support IT companies on all matters related to tax benefits:
advise on new requirements and deadlines;
verify software compliance with registry inclusion criteria;
support the procedure for inclusion in the Ministry of Digital Development registry.
Contact us — we will analyze your situation and help you maintain your place in the registry and your tax preferences.