MOSCOW, June 9 (RAPSI, Maria Petrova) – Tax officials could be fined for damages and losses they have caused to innocent individuals, read the amendments to the Administrative Offenses Code that were submitted to the State Duma on Monday, the lower house has written on its website.

According to the explanatory note to the bill, tax officials enjoy broad powers but are not held accountable for their actions, many of which cause damages and losses to innocent taxpayers.

The Administrative Offenses Code does not stipulate punishment for these actions. Under Article 1069 of the Code, damages and losses caused to innocent individuals or legal entities due to the tax agencies’ action or inaction are compensated in full from the federal budget.

The authors of the bill believe that it is the guilty officials who should be punished and propose fining them between 30,000 and 50,000 rubles ($874-$1,455). The bill has been forwarded to State Duma Speaker Sergei Naryshkin for consideration.