Federal Tax Police Service of the Russian Federation

Federal Tax Police Service
AbbreviationFSNP
Agency overview
Formed1992
Preceding agency
  • Federal Tax Police Service of Russia
DissolvedMarch 11, 2003
Employees55,000
Jurisdictional structure
Federal agencyRU
Operations jurisdictionRU
General nature
Operational structure
HeadquartersMoscow, Russia
Agency executive
Parent agencyPresident of Russia

The Federal Tax Police Service of the Russian Federation (In Russian: Федеральная служба налоговой полиции Российской Федерации) was a Russian law enforcement agency started 1992 for investigating and punishing tax evasion in a decentralizing post-Soviet economy. Like many other anti-corruption institutions the Russia Federation created in the early 1990s, this new tax agency was founded on a set of popular, reform-minded beliefs that policing is a service to society.

By the end of decade, however, this 'police as service' ideology was overtaken by more paternalistic views. Following this ideological shift in 1997, non-payment of taxes caused a serious economic crisis in Russia, and the agency was frequently condemned in the West for its violent policing methods.

In 2003, the Tax Police Service was abolished.