Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has still not signed the law on the taxation of digital platforms adopted by the Verkhovna Rada, which the public has dubbed the “OLX tax.” As Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko told the parliament's finance committee, the reason for the delay is the amendments that MPs introduced into the text of the document, which effectively tied it to an expanded list of politically exposed persons (PEP). According to the head of the Finance Ministry, it is precisely these changes that make signing the law impossible in its current form.
Reason for the Delay: PEP Amendments
“We have amendments that were introduced into the bill on digital platforms, which envisage expanding the circle of persons subject to monitoring and financial control of politically exposed persons,” Marchenko explained. Thus, the law, which was originally supposed to deal exclusively with the taxation of online platforms, became “tied” to a separate provision on PEP. The minister emphasized that, in order to sign the document, additional changes to the bill on politically exposed persons must first be made — in other words, the two topics that the Rada combined in a single text must be untangled.
Europe's Reaction and the Risk of Blocking Aid
According to Marchenko, the amendments introduced triggered a negative reaction from European counterparts. Currently, as he noted, European and Ukrainian representatives are jointly preparing a version of how the law can be clarified to remove the objections. The minister directly warned of the consequences: “The changes that were made, unfortunately, in fact, in the event of signing the bill on digital platforms, would have blocked any assistance from the European Union.” Thus, at stake is not only the tax reform but also continued access to EU financial support.
What Is the “OLX Tax” and Why Does the State Need It
As a reminder, in early June the Verkhovna Rada adopted the high-profile law on the taxation of digital platforms. The document provides for a significant increase in levies for citizens who sell goods or provide services through popular online platforms. Marchenko stated that this step will help bring the digital economy out of the shadows and create a level playing field in the market. The new provisions are expected to bring the state around 14 billion hryvnias annually, and in wartime conditions all of these funds are planned to be directed exclusively to financing the security and defense sector. Moreover, the adoption of the law is part of Ukraine's official commitments within the framework of cooperation with the International Monetary Fund.
Contradictory Data
Public statements and fact-checking materials contain several inconsistencies that are important to take into account. First, on timing: the law was adopted by the Rada in early June, yet by the end of August it had still not been signed by the head of state, creating a gap between the formal adoption of the document and its actual entry into force — in effect, several months of “sitting” on the president's desk. Second, on substance: on the one hand, the law is presented as a source of around 14 billion hryvnias annually and as the fulfillment of obligations to the IMF, i.e., as an economically positive step; on the other — according to the Finance Ministry itself, its current version with the PEP amendments is capable of blocking EU aid. These two assessments coexist in the official rhetoric, and their contradiction is explained precisely by the fact that the tax and PEP components were combined in a single document.
When the Law May Be Signed
In response to a direct question about when Zelensky would finally sign the bill, Marchenko answered that this would happen after a path to the adoption of an alternative clarifying bill becomes visible. In other words, the signing has been made dependent on a separate parliamentary process to rework the PEP provision. Until that path is determined, the law on digital platforms remains unsigned, and the 14 billion hryvnias annually expected for the budget — frozen.
