Ukraine could lose 27 billion hryvnia due to tax breaks on international parcels
Due to the VAT exemption on international shipments valued at up to 150 euros, the Ukrainian budget could lose approximately 27 billion hryvnias in 2026.
This was reported by Ukrinform.
Miroslav Laba, a specialist in tax and regulatory policy at the Economic Expert Platform, made this statement during a roundtable discussion.
According to him, between 2022 and 2025, the value of tax-exempt international shipments increased by more than 50%, and about 81% of such parcels come from Chinese marketplaces.
Laba also cited a study by Copenhagen Economics, according to which the value of nearly 65% of parcels may be understated.
The expert believes that the total value of untaxed international shipments by the end of the year could reach UAH 130 billion, which accounts for potential budget losses from unpaid VAT.
At the same time, he stated that draft law No. 15112-d on the abolition of this exemption has not only a fiscal but also an economic goal—to support Ukrainian manufacturers who are losing out to cheaper imported goods.
As a reminder, sole proprietors who have losttheir businesses due to the war can apply for compensation.
Small businesses in Ukraine are facing serious difficulties due to Russia’s frequent attacks on energy infrastructure, which cause prolonged outages of electricity, water, and heat during the winter season at temperatures of −20 °C.
