Ukraine: Ukraine enacts a package of anti-crisis tax changes

International Tax Review is part of Legal Benchmarking Limited, 1-2 Paris Garden, London, SE1 8ND

Copyright © Legal Benchmarking Limited and its affiliated companies 2026

Accessibility | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Modern Slavery Statement

Ukraine: Ukraine enacts a package of anti-crisis tax changes

kotenko.jpg

kalyta.jpg

Vladimir Kotenko


Iryna Kalyta

In an effort to fire-fight the treasury crisis, on March 27 2014 the Ukrainian Parliament passed law No. 4576 increasing tax rates and abolishing a number of tax exemptions. The majority of changes introduced by this law are supposed to take effect from April 1 2014. The new rules include:

  • Freezing the corporate profit tax rate and the VAT rate at their current level (18% and 20% respectively), instead of the initially planned gradual reduction to 16% and 17% respectively by 2016).

  • Introduction of 7% VAT on supply of pharmaceuticals and selected medical products (as opposed to existing VAT exemption). Tax treatment of importation of pharmaceuticals and medical products remains unclear (7% was apparently meant but poor wording of the law creates a risk of 20% VAT upon importation).

  • Re-introduction of a special purpose pension fund levy of 0.5% to be imposed on legal entities and individuals upon purchase of foreign currency.

  • Increase of rates of the following taxes and charges:

  • Excise tax on alcohol, tobacco, oil products and vehicles;

  • Air emission tax and waste dumping tax;

  • Radio frequency charge;

  • Special water use charge;

  • Land tax; and

  • Rates of subsoil duty.

  • Introduction of progressive personal income tax (PIT) rates of 15%, 17%, 20% and 25% on passive income of individuals (dividends, interest, and royalties). This rule will take effect starting July 2014.

More changes in tax regulations are expected, including those abolishing other tax exemptions.

Vladimir Kotenko (vladimir.kotenko@ua.ey.com) and Iryna Kalyta (iryna.kalyta@ua.ey.com)

EY

Tel: +380 44 490 3000

Fax: +380 44 490 3030

Website: www.ey.com/ua

more across site & shared bottom lb ros

More from across our site

The country has overseen better audit procedures and demonstrated commitment to acting as a 'regional leader' on international tax matters, the OECD said
Barrister Setu Kamal and policy guru Dan Neidle have clashed over the former’s legal action against Google, described as ‘bonkers’ by Neidle
Authors from Khaitan & Co evaluate the recent CBDT notification, whereby legacy investments made by investors continue to be exempt from the applicability of GAAR
Dual-qualified corporate tax specialist Christoph Schimmer joins the firm after stints at Deloitte, Cerha Hempel and DLA Piper
Geopolitical rivalry is reshaping global tax cooperation, as the OECD’s minimum tax framework fragments and the EU grapples with the ensuing legal fallout
LED Taxand’s partner tells ITR about entrepreneurial inspirations, the importance of people skills, and what makes tax cool
Shiny new offices like Ryan’s in London Bridge aren’t just a cost – they signal that a firm is willing to align with its clients’ interests
Darren Graves will succeed Richard Houston, who is set to lead Deloitte EMEA; in other news, Morgan Lewis hired a three-partner tax team in New York
India also signed its first-ever bilateral APAs with France, Ireland, Indonesia and Sweden last year, the CBDT revealed
Chile’s revamped GAAR marks a shift toward structural scrutiny, pushing MNEs to strengthen tax governance, economic substance and compliance strategies
Gift this article