Nov 21. The deadline for gathering documents that confirm exporters’ right to zero-rate VAT could be temporarily extended from 180 days to 270 days. The Duma Budget and Tax Committee recommended that such amendments be approved in the second and third readings. The provision will apply to goods exported during the period from July 31, 2008 to December 31, 2009. The committee also recommended that the tax initiatives proposed by Russian PM Vladimir Putin at the United Russia congress Thursday be approved in the second and third readings. As Deputy Finance Minister Sergey Shatalov pointed out, exporters currently have 180 days to submit documents to tax bodies that confirm their right to apply a zero VAT rate. If a taxpayer fails to meet the deadline, it should pay VAT at the standard rate of "18% or 10% depending on the specific category of the export good".