Business calls for adoption of amendments on taxation of international parcels and digital platforms

27/ 05/ 2026

The European Business Association took part in a joint discussion of draft laws on the taxation of international parcels and digital platforms. The event, co-organised by the EBA, ACC, UBC and CIPE, brought together Members of the Ukrainian Parliament, the Minister of Finance of Ukraine, representatives of the State Customs Service and the State Tax Service, EU officials, analysts and business representatives. Svitlana Mykhailovska, Deputy Director of the European Business Association, noted that the economy is changing rapidly and tax rules must keep pace with these transformations. Ukraine is actively moving towards harmonisation of its legislation with European approaches, and business supports the overall direction of these changes. According to her, the abolition of the current exemption is a matter of economic fairness, budget revenue generation, and fulfilment of Ukraine’s European integration commitments. At the same time, the existing mechanism is often misused by non-compliant players, in particular through the fragmentation of commercial shipments and their subsequent sale without tax payment, which distorts competition. Business calls for joint efforts to adopt the necessary legislative changes. During the event, the results of an Info Sapiens survey were presented on public attitudes towards potential changes in the taxation of international parcels valued at up to EUR 150. The survey showed that Ukrainians most frequently order clothing, footwear and household goods from abroad. Military-related goods account for only 3% of all international orders. At the same time, 52% of respondents believe that Ukrainian retailers and foreign marketplaces should operate under the same tax rules when selling goods to Ukrainian consumers. Danylo Hetmantsev, Chair of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Finance, Tax and Customs Policy, stated that the adoption of tax changes supported by “white” businesses requires coordination of efforts and a stronger unified voice from the business community. According to him, while discussions on abolishing parcel exemptions are still ongoing in Ukraine, this issue has long been regulated in most developed countries. Serhii Marchenko, Minister of Finance of Ukraine, noted that the final versions of the draft laws were developed with the involvement of a broad range of stakeholders, including business. Therefore, their adoption will help level the playing field for all market participants and ensure an additional fiscal effect for the state budget. Vladyslav Suvorov, Deputy Head of the State Customs Service, assured that the introduction of new rules will not lead to a collapse at customs. He noted that the information exchange system with postal operators has been operating since April 2023 and requires only minor technical improvements for the full implementation of the new changes. It should be noted that the European Business Association has previously called for the abolition of the VAT exemption for international parcels valued at up to EUR 150 and supported amendments to the taxation of digital platforms. The Association thanks companies, public authorities and experts for the important discussion and for consolidating efforts to develop transparent and fair business rules in Ukraine.

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The European Business Association took part in a joint discussion of draft laws on the taxation of international parcels and digital platforms.

The event, co-organised by the EBA, ACC, UBC and CIPE, brought together Members of the Ukrainian Parliament, the Minister of Finance of Ukraine, representatives of the State Customs Service and the State Tax Service, EU officials, analysts and business representatives.

Svitlana Mykhailovska, Deputy Director of the European Business Association, noted that the economy is changing rapidly and tax rules must keep pace with these transformations. Ukraine is actively moving towards harmonisation of its legislation with European approaches, and business supports the overall direction of these changes.

According to her, the abolition of the current exemption is a matter of economic fairness, budget revenue generation, and fulfilment of Ukraine’s European integration commitments. At the same time, the existing mechanism is often misused by non-compliant players, in particular through the fragmentation of commercial shipments and their subsequent sale without tax payment, which distorts competition. Business calls for joint efforts to adopt the necessary legislative changes.

During the event, the results of an Info Sapiens survey were presented on public attitudes towards potential changes in the taxation of international parcels valued at up to EUR 150.

The survey showed that Ukrainians most frequently order clothing, footwear and household goods from abroad. Military-related goods account for only 3% of all international orders. At the same time, 52% of respondents believe that Ukrainian retailers and foreign marketplaces should operate under the same tax rules when selling goods to Ukrainian consumers.

Danylo Hetmantsev, Chair of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Finance, Tax and Customs Policy, stated that the adoption of tax changes supported by “white” businesses requires coordination of efforts and a stronger unified voice from the business community. According to him, while discussions on abolishing parcel exemptions are still ongoing in Ukraine, this issue has long been regulated in most developed countries.

Serhii Marchenko, Minister of Finance of Ukraine, noted that the final versions of the draft laws were developed with the involvement of a broad range of stakeholders, including business. Therefore, their adoption will help level the playing field for all market participants and ensure an additional fiscal effect for the state budget.

Vladyslav Suvorov, Deputy Head of the State Customs Service, assured that the introduction of new rules will not lead to a collapse at customs. He noted that the information exchange system with postal operators has been operating since April 2023 and requires only minor technical improvements for the full implementation of the new changes.

It should be noted that the European Business Association has previously called for the abolition of the VAT exemption for international parcels valued at up to EUR 150 and supported amendments to the taxation of digital platforms.

The Association thanks companies, public authorities and experts for the important discussion and for consolidating efforts to develop transparent and fair business rules in Ukraine.