Decree on the abolishment of domestic customs in Russia signed

20 (31) December 1753 Elisabeth of Russia signed the Decree on the abolishment of domestic customs duties which were one of the major obstacles to the development of the domestic turnover.

7 (18) September 1752 count Pyotr I. Shuvalov proposed to the Senate a draft of the abolishment of the domestic customs duties.

Initially, the program of activities of Shuvalov provided exemption from domestic customs duties exclusively to peasant commerce, not to merchant trade. The project did not indicate on what kinds of fees the income to the treasury from customs duties imposed on peasant trade was shifted. That is why 16 (27) March 1753 Shuvalov introduced to the Senate a new project, proposing to cancel all internal customs duties which were levied in domestic customs houses, governorates and provincial offices. In the final draft submitted to the Senate 18 (29) August 1753, it was proposed to abolish not only the domestic customs duties and 16 other charges burdening the peasant and the merchant trade, but also distillation of the landlords. This reform project had financial grounds under it: senator proposed to compensate the budget shortfall due to the elimination of domestic customs (except for customs at ports and borders) and the abolition of domestic customs duties by increasing the external import and export duties and the overall per capita fee. Finally, 20 (31) December 1753, Shuvalov’s proposals were approved by decree of Elizabeth "On the abolition of domestic customs duties and petty." An integral part of the decree was "The report of the Senate approved by Her Majesty" of 18 (29) December 1753.

Already in 1754 the domestic customs were abolished at most of the country, stopped the collection of 17 petty charges burdening domestic trade. The surplus tax of 13% which replaced them, was planned to be collected in ports and borders customs offices from all imported and issue goods.

In 1754, the government also abolished domestic customs duties and trade office taxes in Siberia and the imposition of customs duties on goods imported from Russia to Siberia. Export of goods from Siberia to Russia was taxed by the rate of 10%: furs were still charged with the tenth animal, and other goods were charged by 10 kopecks per ruble. The export of Russian goods through Siberia to China and other Asian countries was taxed by 5% of duty (instead of the one fixed by the rate) and an additional 13% rate; export of Siberian goods abroad was taxed by 10% of duty instead of the rate   and 13% fee. The same was imposition of import of Chinese and other oriental goods to Siberia: 10% and an additional 13%.

In April 1755 border customs in Bryansk, Kursk, Smolensk and other cities moved to the border of the Russian Empire. There were also abolished internal customs at the borders between Russia, Ukraine and the region of the Don Cossacks. These reforms of the customs system were recorded by the Customs statute in 1755 and secured by protectionist customs tariff in 1757.

Lit.: Берков Е. А., Галанжин Е. Ф. Таможенное дело (1726-1986). М., 1988; Витчевский В. Торговая, таможенная и промышленная политика России со времени Петра Великого до наших дней. СПб., 1909; Волков М. Я. Отмена внутренних таможен в России // История СССР. 1957. № 2; Волков М. Я. Таможенная реформа 1753-1757 гг. // Исторические записки. 1962. Т. 71; Корякина Е. П. Программа социально-экономических преобразований П. И. Шувалова. Автореферат дис. … канд. ист. наук. М, 1992; Кулишер И. М. История русской торговли до девятнадцатого века включительно. Пг., 1923; Лодыженский К. История русского таможенного тарифа. СПб., 1886; Марков Л. Н. Очерки по истории таможенной службы России. Иркутск, 1987; Таможенное дело в России X — начало XX вв. (Исторический очерк. Документы. Материалы). СПб., 1995.

Based on the Presidential Library’s materials:

Полное собрание законов Российской империи, с 1649 г. Т. 13 (1749-1753). СПб., 1830. № 10164. С. 947 .