Tax reform is highly needed, but details are important for business

17/ 01/ 2023

Listen to online Stop   The tax reform concept (originally known as 10-10-10) is being actively developed and discussed in Ukraine. Its authors consider that the changes should contribute to economic growth and the formation of a new tax culture – in which it will be more profitable to pay taxes than not. The EBA community has been talking for a long time about the need to de-shadow the economy, and the importance of reducing the burden on the payroll because, with such a tax burden, transparent business becomes completely uncompetitive compared to the shadow. Therefore, in general, the business is interested in the announced concept of the tax reform and is ready to actively engage in its development, providing relevant expertise and proposals. Moreover, the idea to make the country attractive for investment, particularly in terms of taxes, to make everything transparent, and to remove shadow flows, certainly appeals to the business community. After all, in the current rather difficult situation not only the existing economic front of the country (business) should work. New investments are also extremely important for Ukraine, namely, to facilitate faster recovery, since, according to official data, last year the Ukrainian economy shrank by more than 30%, the decline in production is up to 70%-80% in certain industries, etc. Therefore, the country needs a new competitive system – both for existing and new businesses. However, it is now important to exhaustively define the detailed parameters of the tax reform that will encourage businesses to work legally, particularly, by providing for the reduction of certain taxes. Besides, not only tax rates are currently an issue for the country. The whole system of tax administration needs to be reformed, legislative imperfections and contradictions should be eliminated, and a clear scope of powers and functions of state bodies should be defined (so that there are no contradictions and overlaps). At the same time, the issues of the rule of law and the effective fight against corruption are extremely relevant, so by changing the distribution of taxes, the whole system will start working differently – honestly, transparently and clearly. As the authors note, the announced reform, first of all, should be focused on fighting corruption, which, surely, is supported by the community and is extremely long-awaited. Nevertheless, business has not seen the draft text of the document yet, therefore, the community will be able to present the final position after getting acquainted with the concept in the form of a draft law – so that each industry can mathematically calculate the effects. Moreover, an important task is to reach an understanding with Ukraines international partners on the parameters of the tax reform. Therefore, the community hopes for close cooperation of business with the authorities in developing the main parameters of the reform and is looking forward to the draft text of the document to start work.

The tax reform concept (originally known as 10-10-10) is being actively developed and discussed in Ukraine. Its authors consider that the changes should contribute to economic growth and the formation of a new tax culture – in which it will be more profitable to pay taxes than not.
The EBA community has been talking for a long time about the need to de-shadow the economy, and the importance of reducing the burden on the payroll because, with such a tax burden, transparent business becomes completely uncompetitive compared to the shadow.

Therefore, in general, the business is interested in the announced concept of the tax reform and is ready to actively engage in its development, providing relevant expertise and proposals.

Moreover, the idea to make the country attractive for investment, particularly in terms of taxes, to make everything transparent, and to remove shadow flows, certainly appeals to the business community. After all, in the current rather difficult situation not only the existing economic front of the country (business) should work. New investments are also extremely important for Ukraine, namely, to facilitate faster recovery, since, according to official data, last year the Ukrainian economy shrank by more than 30%, the decline in production is up to 70%-80% in certain industries, etc. Therefore, the country needs a new competitive system – both for existing and new businesses.

However, it is now important to exhaustively define the detailed parameters of the tax reform that will encourage businesses to work legally, particularly, by providing for the reduction of certain taxes.

Besides, not only tax rates are currently an issue for the country. The whole system of tax administration needs to be reformed, legislative imperfections and contradictions should be eliminated, and a clear scope of powers and functions of state bodies should be defined (so that there are no contradictions and overlaps). At the same time, the issues of the rule of law and the effective fight against corruption are extremely relevant, so by changing the distribution of taxes, the whole system will start working differently – honestly, transparently and clearly.

As the authors note, the announced reform, first of all, should be focused on fighting corruption, which, surely, is supported by the community and is extremely long-awaited.

Nevertheless, business has not seen the draft text of the document yet, therefore, the community will be able to present the final position after getting acquainted with the concept in the form of a draft law – so that each industry can mathematically calculate the effects. Moreover, an important task is to reach an understanding with Ukraine’s international partners on the parameters of the tax reform.

Therefore, the community hopes for close cooperation of business with the authorities in developing the main parameters of the reform and is looking forward to the draft text of the document to start work.