“Economist Oleh Pendzyn warns Ukrainians against premature panic regarding tough tax reforms that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is supposedly demanding. Although unofficial sources spread information about the cancellation of benefits, the introduction of VAT for FOPs with an income of more than UAH 1 million and other unpopular measures, in a comment for UA.News, the expert emphasized that the official legislative framework for these changes”, — write on: ua.news
Economist Oleh Pendzyn warns Ukrainians against premature panic regarding tough tax reforms that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is supposedly demanding. Although unofficial sources spread information about the cancellation of benefits, the introduction of VAT for business owners with an income of more than UAH 1 million and other unpopular measures, in a comment for UA.News, the expert emphasized that there is currently no official legislative basis for these changes: “Please name me at least one draft law on changing the tax legislation that someone has submitted to the Verkhovna Rada. He is not there.”
Pendzin explains that the wave of discussions is too emotional, and the IMF program itself has so far only been agreed at the staff level, and not approved by the Board of Directors. According to him, until there is a memorandum signed by the government and a draft law registered in the parliament, all talk about a catastrophic increase in taxes is “no more than just talk.” The expert also reminded that even historically, not all requirements of the Fund, which were in previous memoranda (for example, regarding energy prices), were fulfilled by Ukraine.
At the same time, the economist admitted that the problem of tax minimization through FOPs really exists when large companies (restaurants or supermarkets) use a simplified system to evade full taxation. However, he advises war-weary and emotional Ukrainians not to succumb to “hype” topics until a specific legislative document appears. The decision of the IMF’s Board of Directors, on which the provision of $8.1 billion depends, may be blocked, for example, due to the lack of a reparation loan, which makes the discussion of changes even more premature.
By the way, in Transcarpathia, two McDonald’s fast food establishments pay the same amount of taxes as the forest industry of the region, which amounts to 16 million hryvnias in 2025.
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