MOSCOW, April 24 - RAPSI. The Ninth Commercial Court of Appeals has registered an appeal filed by IKEA MOS against the Moscow Commercial Court's March 22 ruling in its lawsuit to invalidate the Federal Tax Service's claims.

The court has yet to schedule the hearing.

IKEA MOS owns and manages the Mega shopping centers in Russia.

IKEA objected to the supplementary 1.06 billion ruble ($36 million) tax charge on April 30, 2010.

The Moscow Commercial Court partially upheld the lawsuit on December 14, 2010 and halved the tax claims to 500 million rubles ($17 million).
The appeals court upheld the decision.

IKEA then filed a new appeal, seeking to satisfy its lawsuit against the tax claims in full. The Moscow District Federal Commercial Court held for IKEA MOS' appeal in August.

IKEA is the world's largest retailer selling furniture and household items. It operates 11 IKEA shops and 13 Mega trade centers in Russia. The first IKEA store opened in Russia in 2000. The projected investments into Mega trade and entertainment complexes average $120-$300 million.