Business worsened the assessment of the tax regime in Ukraine during the war

28/ 12/ 2022

This is evidenced by the new wave of the Tax Index Survey for 2022, which the European Business Association conducted together with EY in Ukraine. The survey participants worsened the integral value of the index to 2.97 points out of 5 possible. As a reminder, in 2021, the index was 3.01 points, being in the neutral plane for the first time in the ten-year history of the study. View the presentation The lowest score among the components of the index was given to tax administration and tax reporting – 2.74 points out of 5 possible. Thus, 41% of respondents rate this procedure as satisfactory, while 39% consider it burdensome, including 8% – very burdensome, and 20% consider it easy. Most respondents complain about the amount of time they spend preparing tax returns and paying taxes. The quality of tax legislation received a slightly higher overall score than last year, which amounted to 2.86 points. Among respondents, 40% assess the quality of tax legislation as satisfactory, and 26% – as positive. However, the number of dissatisfied respondents has slightly increased – from 30% to the current 34%. The assessment of the quality of tax services has slightly increased – up to 3.04 points. In general, the ratio of respondents with positive and negative perceptions of the quality of service by tax authorities remained almost unchanged (positive – 35%, satisfactory – 39%, unsatisfactory – 26%). According to 43% of respondents, it has been easy to contact the tax service since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. At the same time, 18% reported difficulties in communication, and 40% rated it satisfactory. Although once again the fiscal pressure assessment factor is in the neutral plane – 3.24 points, this year respondents reported a certain increase in fiscal pressure compared to last year. Thus, the number of respondents who did not feel any pressure on their company has significantly decreased – only 4% of respondents reported no pressure (in 2021 there were 36% of such respondents). Among the manifestations of fiscal pressure, businesses highlighted unreasonable interpretations of tax legislation by regulatory authorities, as well as unreasonable information requests and blocking of tax invoices. Only 7% of businesses that applied to the tax authorities with inquiries were satisfactorily resolved, another 75% were partially resolved, and 18% were not resolved at all. Natalia Artemchuk. Manager of the EBA Tax and Customs Committees.. Businesses, which currently have limited opportunities to fulfil their tax obligations due to military actions, need more understanding from the tax authorities. The blocking of tax invoices, unreasonable information requests and requests for documents have significantly affected the companies Business assessed the timeliness, completeness, and effectiveness of changes in tax regulation in accordance with the challenges of wartime rather restrained. Thus, 49% consider the changes untimely, insufficient and ineffective, and 33% consider the response to wartime challenges satisfactory. Only 18% consider them timely, complete and effective. Regarding tax and other related areas, business proposes to facilitate the work of companies: clarifying rules that would unambiguously provide fines exemption for violations committed during martial law, simplifying the registration of tax invoices, minimizing the number of inquiries and inspections, reducing restrictions on the use of own currency funds, simplification of border crossing rules for employees of operating businesses. Anna Derevyanko. EBA Executive Director. The primary task of business is to continue its activities despite the difficult circumstances and to ensure the creation of a reliable economic rear of the struggling country. Jobs, salaries to employees, honest interaction with contractors, effective activities and, as a result, paid taxes are examples of a significant contribution of business to the victory. We all have to meet the level of challenges we face. Therefore, we expect the representatives of the state authorities to provide maximum assistance to businesses in ensuring their work in these extremely difficult conditions. We ask them to listen to the complaints and advice expressed by business and to take them into account in practice. For reference: The EBA Tax Index has been conducted since 2011. During the calculations, traditionally 4 criteria have been taken into account: The quality of tax legislation; Complexity/easiness of tax administration; Fiscal pressure; The quality of tax services. Altogether, 111 tax & finance experts took part in the current wave of the survey conducted from November 17 till December 23. The survey partner in 2022 – EY in Ukraine.

This is evidenced by the new wave of the Tax Index Survey for 2022, which the European Business Association conducted together with EY in Ukraine. The survey participants worsened the integral value of the index to 2.97 points out of 5 possible. As a reminder, in 2021, the index was 3.01 points, being in the neutral plane for the first time in the ten-year history of the study.

View the presentation

The lowest score among the components of the index was given to tax administration and tax reporting – 2.74 points out of 5 possible. Thus, 41% of respondents rate this procedure as satisfactory, while 39% consider it burdensome, including 8% – very burdensome, and 20% consider it easy. Most respondents complain about the amount of time they spend preparing tax returns and paying taxes.

The quality of tax legislation received a slightly higher overall score than last year, which amounted to 2.86 points. Among respondents, 40% assess the quality of tax legislation as satisfactory, and 26% – as positive. However, the number of dissatisfied respondents has slightly increased – from 30% to the current 34%.

The assessment of the quality of tax services has slightly increased – up to 3.04 points. In general, the ratio of respondents with positive and negative perceptions of the quality of service by tax authorities remained almost unchanged (positive – 35%, satisfactory – 39%, unsatisfactory – 26%).

According to 43% of respondents, it has been easy to contact the tax service since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. At the same time, 18% reported difficulties in communication, and 40% rated it satisfactory.

Although once again the fiscal pressure assessment factor is in the neutral plane – 3.24 points, this year respondents reported a certain increase in fiscal pressure compared to last year. Thus, the number of respondents who did not feel any pressure on their company has significantly decreased – only 4% of respondents reported no pressure (in 2021 there were 36% of such respondents).

Among the manifestations of fiscal pressure, businesses highlighted unreasonable interpretations of tax legislation by regulatory authorities, as well as unreasonable information requests and blocking of tax invoices.

Only 7% of businesses that applied to the tax authorities with inquiries were satisfactorily resolved, another 75% were partially resolved, and 18% were not resolved at all.

Natalia Artemchuk Manager of the EBA Tax and Customs Committees.

Businesses, which currently have limited opportunities to fulfil their tax obligations due to military actions, need more understanding from the tax authorities. The blocking of tax invoices, unreasonable information requests and requests for documents have significantly affected the companies

Business assessed the timeliness, completeness, and effectiveness of changes in tax regulation in accordance with the challenges of wartime rather restrained. Thus, 49% consider the changes untimely, insufficient and ineffective, and 33% consider the response to wartime challenges satisfactory. Only 18% consider them timely, complete and effective.

Regarding tax and other related areas, business proposes to facilitate the work of companies:

clarifying rules that would unambiguously provide fines exemption for violations committed during martial law,
simplifying the registration of tax invoices,
minimizing the number of inquiries and inspections,
reducing restrictions on the use of own currency funds,
simplification of border crossing rules for employees of operating businesses.

Anna Derevyanko EBA Executive Director

The primary task of business is to continue its activities despite the difficult circumstances and to ensure the creation of a reliable economic rear of the struggling country. Jobs, salaries to employees, honest interaction with contractors, effective activities and, as a result, paid taxes are examples of a significant contribution of business to the victory. We all have to meet the level of challenges we face. Therefore, we expect the representatives of the state authorities to provide maximum assistance to businesses in ensuring their work in these extremely difficult conditions. We ask them to listen to the complaints and advice expressed by business and to take them into account in practice.

For reference:

The EBA Tax Index has been conducted since 2011.

During the calculations, traditionally 4 criteria have been taken into account:

The quality of tax legislation;
Complexity/easiness of tax administration;
Fiscal pressure;
The quality of tax services.

Altogether, 111 tax & finance experts took part in the current wave of the survey conducted from November 17 till December 23. The survey partner in 2022 – EY in Ukraine.