TL;DR
Get everyday essentials delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
Russian authorities are discussing an early end to the preferential mortgage program for IT workers, according to sources cited by RBC. Two sources said it could end in December 2026, but a federal official said no final decision has been made. The Digital Development Ministry says the program’s future funding is being worked out and that existing borrowers’ rates will remain unchanged for their loan terms.
Russian authorities are discussing an early end to subsidized mortgages for IT workers, with two sources telling business outlet RBC that the program could stop in December 2026. A federal official said no final decision has been made, leaving the program’s end date and future funding unsettled.
RBC reported that three sources familiar with the discussions described plans to end the program ahead of schedule. Two said it would end in December 2026; a third said “the parameters and timing of early termination are being worked out.” A federal official told RBC the issue remained under discussion and that the government had not reached a final decision.
A representative of the Digital Development Ministry said funding for the program in the next period was being worked out “amid limited budget funds.” The ministry also said borrowers who already have preferential mortgages will keep the rates set in their loan agreements for the full terms of those loans. The ministry did not confirm a December termination date.
The program was launched in spring 2022 for eligible employees of IT companies accredited by the ministry and using tax incentives. Its initial maximum interest rate was 5%. The source report does not give an estimate of how many borrowers or prospective applicants would be affected by an early end.
What an Early End Could Change
If the government ends the program early, eligible IT workers who have not yet taken out a loan could lose access to a mortgage subsidy sooner than previously expected. That would affect an employment-linked housing benefit introduced to support workers at qualifying technology companies. The possible December 2026 date is not confirmed, so applicants should not treat it as a settled deadline.
For existing borrowers, the ministry’s stated position offers a distinction between future program availability and current loan terms: it says their agreed rates will remain unchanged for the full loan period. The report does not describe any proposed change to existing contracts. Any effect on new applications, application deadlines, or borrowers already approved but not yet issued loans is still unclear.
The dispute also concerns public spending. The ministry cited limited budget funds while saying future financing was being worked out. Ending or narrowing the subsidy could reduce future government costs, but the available reporting provides no budget figures, forecast savings, or explanation of how many people the government expects to qualify before any possible cutoff.
mortgage calculator with extra payment and amortization schedule
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
How the Mortgage Terms Tightened
The preferential mortgage program began in spring 2022 for employees of accredited IT companies that used tax incentives. At launch, the interest rate was capped at 5%. The government later changed the terms in 2024, raising the cap to 6% and excluding Moscow and St. Petersburg from the regions covered.
For cities with more than one million residents, the maximum loan amount was reduced from 18 million rubles to nine million rubles. The salary threshold also rose from 120,000 to 150,000 rubles. The Digital Development Ministry said at the time that the changes were partly driven by the program’s high burden on the budget.
The government had also announced plans to extend the program through 2030. The current discussions therefore point to a possible reversal of that stated timeline, but the reporting does not establish whether the earlier extension plan has formally been withdrawn or revised.
““Amid limited budget funds, funding for the program for the next period is being worked out.””
— Digital Development Ministry representative
first-time homebuyer budgeting planner
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
End Date and Funding Still Open
The government has not publicly confirmed an early termination, and the federal official cited by RBC said no final decision has been made. December 2026 is a date reported by two sources, not an announced deadline. It is also unclear whether the government is considering a full shutdown, a reduction in eligibility, or another change to the program’s terms.
The ministry has not provided a final funding amount or timeline for deciding the program’s next period. Reporting also does not explain what would happen to applications submitted before a cutoff but not yet approved, or whether the previously announced plan to extend the program through 2030 remains formally in place. The ministry’s statement addresses rates for people who have already taken out loans, but does not resolve those other cases.
home buying document organizer folder
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Awaiting a Government Decision
The next key development is a formal government decision on whether the program will continue, change, or end early. The Digital Development Ministry’s funding review may clarify the available budget and any proposed timetable, but no decision date has been reported.
Until officials publish specific terms, December 2026 should be treated as a possible end date reported by RBC’s sources, not confirmed policy. Prospective borrowers will need official guidance on eligibility and application deadlines, while existing borrowers will be watching for confirmation that their contract rates remain protected as the ministry has stated.
mortgage rate lock and loan comparison worksheet
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Key Questions
Has Russia decided to end the IT worker mortgage program?
No. A federal official told RBC that the issue is still under discussion and that no final decision has been made.
When could the program end?
Two RBC sources said it could end in December 2026. That date has not been confirmed by the government.
Will existing borrowers lose their current mortgage rates?
The Digital Development Ministry said borrowers who have already taken out loans will keep their agreed rates for the full term of their loan agreements.
Why is an early end being discussed?
The ministry cited limited budget funds and said funding for the program in the next period is being worked out. Officials have not published detailed budget figures or a final proposal.
What were the program’s latest reported terms?
After changes in 2024, the maximum interest rate was 6%; Moscow and St. Petersburg were excluded; and in cities with more than one million residents, the maximum loan size fell to nine million rubles. The salary threshold rose to 150,000 rubles.
Source: rss
Fall Picks
fall essentials
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
