At what age can you legally open an individual entrepreneur?
The current law states that a citizen recognized as fully capable, an adult, can engage in entrepreneurial activity, even if no court injunctions are imposed on his activities.
According to the law (Article 21, Part 1 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation), responsibility for their own actions is fully assigned to persons whose age has reached eighteen years. However, there are exceptions for running a business that allow you to become an individual entrepreneur at a younger age. This is evidenced by Art. 27 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation: a minor whose age has reached 16 years can be recognized as absolutely capable if he engages in labor activity, or if his parents/guardians agree to open an individual entrepreneur for him. The guardianship authorities or the court can carry out the emancipation procedure (declaring a minor fully capable).
In the first case, the consent of both parents/guardians will be required. If one of them speaks out against such a decision, the guardianship authorities will not be able to resolve the issue, and they must go to court to obtain emancipation.
If the court decides to deny a citizen the right to emancipation, the latter is not prohibited from re-applying to the judicial authorities with the same demands.
To register an individual entrepreneur with the Federal Tax Service of the Russian Federation, a person under 18 years of age, in addition to the standard package, will need to submit one of the following additional documents:
- Written consent of the citizen’s parents/guardians to conduct business activities.
- A court ruling declaring a citizen emancipated (a copy and an original are required).
- If emancipation was made due to marriage, a document confirming the relevant marital status (certificate from the registry office) is required.
- If legal capacity is confirmed by the guardianship authorities, you must submit the original and a copy of the decision.
But there is also a “regional” nuance. In some regions of Russia there are laws allowing marriage at the age of 14. Legally, in such a region, upon marriage, you can obtain emancipation and become an entrepreneur at the age of 14. Today, this legislation is in force in 18 regions of the country: among them Tatarstan, Moscow, Tyumen, Chelyabinsk, Samara and other regions.
