The plan to reform the taxation of international parcels, which is one of the key conditions for receiving financial assistance from international partners, will undergo significant changes in timing. Instead of the previously planned July, the package of relevant draft laws will likely be adopted by the Verkhovna Rada only closer to the end of the year.

This was stated by the head of the parliament's tax committee, Danylo Hetmantsev, during the forum "Restoring Ukraine: European integration and institutional reforms." According to him, legislators have no choice but to adopt these changes, however, the realities of the political agenda force a shift in the deadline.

New deadlines and creditor pressure

According to the updated memorandum with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the package of laws on the abolition of preferential taxation of parcels worth up to 150 euros was supposed to be adopted by the end of July. However, Hetmantsev admitted that the implementation of this structural benchmark is effectively postponed.

"I think, by the New Year. We have no other options but to adopt," noted the head of the tax committee.

Nevertheless, the interim deadline remains critically important — October. It is at this time that the next review of the cooperation program with the IMF is scheduled. By this date, the Verkhovna Rada must demonstrate clear progress in working on the draft laws to avoid disrupting the financing tranche.

"By the next review, we must have progress. By October, I think we will have some progress. Maybe the first reading, maybe the second (adoption of the draft law – ed.). We'll see," added Hetmantsev.

Status of legislative work

To meet the creditors' requirements, it is necessary to adopt two interrelated documents: amendments to the Tax Code and amendments to the Customs Code. The head of the tax committee emphasized that these laws must be adopted as a pair for the system to work correctly.

At the moment, the situation with the documents looks as follows:

  • Tax Code: Amendments are already ready for consideration by the parliament.
  • Customs Code: Work on the document is still ongoing in the Ministry of Finance.

Deputy Minister of Finance Svitlana Vorobiy confirmed that the draft law on amendments to the Customs Code is in the final stage of preparation for submission to the Rada. According to her, only bureaucratic procedures and final approvals remain to be completed.

"We ourselves are interested in accelerating these processes, as European funds are tied to this," noted Vorobiy.

When the new rules will come into force

It is important to note that even after the laws are adopted at the end of the year, changes in the taxation of parcels will not take effect immediately. According to Hetmantsev's statement, the new regime will come into force no earlier than 2027. This will give time for the technical preparation of customs systems and the adaptation of market participants to the new conditions.