Ukrainian business has secured a significant concession from the state regarding the digital transformation of the excise system. The Ministry of Digital Transformation has officially supported the entrepreneurs' initiative to postpone the mandatory launch of the eExcise system. Instead of the planned November 2026, the start of the platform's operation is proposed to be delayed until July 1, 2027.
The decision was announced during a round table of the European Business Association (EBA), where representatives of key departments — the Ministry of Digital Transformation, the Ministry of Finance, the State Tax Service, and the State Customs Service, as well as leaders of the business community, gathered. Minister Oksana Ferchuk confirmed that the department intends to submit the relevant bill to the Verkhovna Rada.
Prioritizing Stability Over Deadlines
The EBA emphasized that business does not oppose the idea of eExcise itself. On the contrary, entrepreneurs view this system as a necessary tool for combating the shadow turnover of excise goods. However, the current situation dictates the need for a postponement: the system is not yet ready for full-scale operation across the entire country.
Deputy Director of the EBA, Svetlana Mikhailovska, highlighted the importance of predictability and technical stability of the transition. According to her, rushing could create serious risks for both the operation of companies and revenue to the state budget. Business needs additional time to complete testing, integrate its own IT solutions, and adapt internal processes to new requirements.
Technical Maturity and Testing
The Ministry of Digital Transformation acknowledged that the implementation of eExcise remains one of the key priorities, but the quality of implementation is more important than speed. Developers have already released an updated version of the system with a stable API and continue to eliminate technical shortcomings.
Currently, the final stage of internal testing is underway for the offline application. After its successful completion, it is planned to transfer it to business for independent testing. Earlier, the head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Finance, Danylo Hetmantsev, also warned that the introduction of the system, planned for November 2026, would likely have to be postponed due to the unpreparedness of the software.
The parties expressed hope that legislators will support the postponement of deadlines, which will allow all necessary preparation stages to be completed and ensure a seamless transition to the new digital platform.
