The Verkhovna Rada once again failed to pass a vote to repeal the tax exemption for packages worth up to 150 euros
1 September 15:11
The Verkhovna Rada did not support bill No. 15112-d, nor the alternative bills No. 15112-1, No. 15112-2, No. 15112-3, No. 15112-4, No. 15112-5, and No. 15112-6, which would have repealed the value-added tax (VAT) exemption for international postal shipments valued at up to EUR150. This was reported by "Komersant Ukrainian" with reference to “Interfax-Ukraine.”
During the plenary session on Tuesday, September 1, 210 members of parliament voted in favor of approving bill No. 15112-d (with a required minimum of 226), 1 voted against, and 30 abstained. The motion for a repeat first reading received 210 votes, while the motion to send the bill back for revision received 220 votes.
“Dear colleagues, I am sorry,” said Parliament Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk, commenting on the results of the vote.
“I want to apologize to the entire Ukrainian business community—to the manufacturing sector, light industry, retail, and others—for the failure of legislative initiatives aimed at eliminating regulations that discriminate against you compared to foreign competitors. I apologize for myself, because I was unable to convince my colleagues, and for my colleagues, for whom I am frankly ashamed. Today, populism and political schemes have prevailed. And, clearly, the Rada is no longer capable of making difficult decisions,” wrote Danylo Getmantsev, head of the Rada Committee on Finance, Tax, and Customs Policy, on his Telegram channel.
He emphasized that “the cost of this mistake” is 4 billion euros in EU aid and the program with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
“A financial catastrophe isn’t just around the corner. It’s already here,” Getmantsev stressed.
According to the Ministry of Finance’s calculations, the adoption of the bill would make it possible to bring in approximately 10 billion hryvnias to the state budget annually.
However, during a conversation with journalists on Tuesday, MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak ( the “Holos” faction) added that the bill provides for the document to take effect in 2027, the government and the State Customs Service (SCS) have not yet begun developing the necessary technical solutions, and no funds have been allocated in the state budget for this purpose.
According to the explanatory note to the document, the bill was drafted to bring Ukrainian tax legislation into line with EU Directives 2006/112/EC and 2006/79/EC regarding the common VAT system and the taxation of e-commerce.
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In particular, the document provides for the introduction of mandatory VAT on distance sales of goods (excluding excisable goods) valued at up to EUR150 that are imported from abroad for individuals via electronic interfaces (marketplaces). To this end, the legislation defines the terms “distance sale of goods,” “electronic interface,” and “electronic interface operator” and establishes rules governing their operations, as well as the procedure for determining exchange rates for calculating and paying the tax.
At the same time, the bill maintains the VAT exemption for non-commercial postal shipments from one individual to another with a value of up to EUR45 per package or shipment, provided that they are sent free of charge and are intended for personal use. Goods (other than excise goods) valued at up to EUR150 in unaccompanied luggage are also exempt from VAT.
Furthermore, the bill provides for a VAT exemption on distance sales of energy equipment and goods intended for the defense forces. The bill also clarifies the provision regarding the VAT exemption for the import and supply of unmanned aerial vehicles, removing the requirement that they be “unarmed.”
The Verkhovna Rada’s adoption of the bill to repeal the tax exemption for international parcels valued at up to EUR150 was a condition for Ukraine to receive the third tranche under the program with the International Monetary Fund—approximately $0.7 billion and the second tranche of macro-financial assistance from the European Union of EUR3.7 billion under the EUR90 billion Loan in Support of Ukraine.
In the updated Memorandum of Financial and Economic Policies under the IMF’s EFF program, Ukraine committed to adopting this law by the end of July as a new structural milestone, whereas in the original version, it was to be adopted by the end of March along with other tax regulations.
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