Main points
- The European Business Association supports the abolition of VAT benefits for goods cheaper than 150 euros and proposes to amend the Customs Code.
- The abolition of the privilege will help Ukraine bring its tax and customs rules closer to European Union standards, reducing budget losses, which, according to experts, may exceed 43 billion hryvnias since the beginning of the war.
Ukrainians face taxation of parcels up to 150 euros: what business says / Unsplash
Experts from the European Business Association have reviewed the package of tax bills proposed by the Cabinet of Ministers. In general, they support the idea, but have their own comments and suggestions.
What does the business say about the taxation of parcels from Temu and other marketplaces?
It is known that VAT benefits are suspended for goods cheaper than 150 euros, the EBA reported.
The association itself says: in general, they are not against removing this benefit. But at the same time, they suggest not limiting themselves to taxes alone – the Customs Code also needs to be adjusted. This is necessary in order to make the process of calculating and paying customs duties simpler and clearer.
- The European Business Association also reminds that this is not the first time they have raised this topic.
- Previously, they had already appealed to the government, parliament, and other bodies to review preferential conditions for importing goods up to 150 euros.
In their opinion, the abolition of this privilege is one of the steps that will help Ukraine bring its tax and customs rules closer to those in force in the European Union.
By the way, according to experts, more than half (56%) of international parcels in 2025 did not pay taxes – these are goods worth about 93 billion hryvnias, because of which the budget lost at least 18.6 billion hryvnias.
And total losses since the beginning of the war may exceed 43 billion hryvnias.
This is an underfunded army and social spending, lost jobs in Ukraine, an underinvested technology sector. The adoption of the bill is a matter of economic justice, the survival of Ukrainian production, and the economic security of the state,
– says the statement of the Association of Information Technology Enterprises of Ukraine.
Will new taxes affect the prices of goods and services?
Analyst Yuriy Shchedrin told Channel 24 that taxation of digital platforms and a tax on parcels from abroad, in particular on Chinese goods, could affect the cost of goods.
Yuri Shchedrin,
analyst at the NGO “Center for Urban Development”
For example, many chains sell the same product on the Ukrainian market, but with a markup. Accordingly, if the ability to order directly from China is restricted, consumers will be forced to buy it in these retail chains. In such a situation, the chains will be able to set prices more freely.
The amount of taxes, which includes VAT at 18% and military levy at 5%, is unrealistic in today's conditions. Many businesses may not be able to afford it: from beauty salons to consulting firms.
Thus, they will be left with two options: either close down or split the business into several sole proprietorships,
– Shchedrin notes.
What do you need to know about taxes in Ukraine?
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Penalties for late payment of taxes in Ukraine are 5% of the debt amount for a delay of up to 30 days and 10% for a delay of more than 30 days. The penalty is calculated daily according to the formula: debt amount × NBU discount rate ÷ 365 × number of days of delay.
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There are 13.1 million people working in Ukraine, but only 10.5 million pay a single social contribution. The government is developing strategies and programs to increase employment, including the approval of a draft new Labor Code.