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The Business Ombudsman Council provides recommendations to state bodies on the basis of individual cases and in accordance with published systemic reports. Here we have collected information on the implementation status of systemic recommendations only.

Report name
Issued recommendations
Execution status

Systemic report "Problems with administering business taxes in Ukraine"

To eliminate the requirement of depositing the balance of VAT accounts with operational cash from the Tax Code due to its’ non-compliance with the best international practices and harmful effect for the day-today activities of the taxpayers. Thus, VAT electronic administration shall cease to be employed as a tool for replenishing state budget through cash advances and start performing its core administrative function.

State Tax Service of Ukraine
Ministry of Finance

Recommendation is no longer relevant
— comments: Respective amendments were proposed by the BOC during the discussion of amendments to the Tax Code of Ukraine in December 2015. However, the proposals were not approved by the Ministry of Finance.
To amend the Tax Code to set out a clear procedure for calculation and payment of penalties imposed for late VAT refund. It shall be clearly stated in the Tax Code that the amount of penalty shall be paid to the taxpayer irrespective of the fact of its' receipt of reconciled VAT refund.

Ministry of Finance
State Tax Service of Ukraine

Recommendation is no longer relevant
— comments: The relevant amendments were proposed by the BOC during the discussion of amendments to the Tax Code of Ukraine in October-December 2016. However, the proposals were not approved by the working group at the Ministry of Finance.

It could be expedient to officially recognize the VAT refund amounts due to businesses as internal state debt. Such state debt shall be subject to restructuring according to mechanisms amicably agreed in negotiations between the tax authorities and businesses. The selection of the mechanisms should be flexible enough to allow restructuring with the account of specifics of particular case and business.

Ministry of Finance
State Tax Service of Ukraine

Recommendation is no longer relevant
— comments: The launch of the automated registry of VAT refund is foreseen by the Law No.1797 dated 21 December 2016.On 17 January 2018, the CMU adopted a draft law governing VAT refund to tax payers that filed their refund applications prior to 1 February 2016, though failed to be refunded from the state budget.Additionally, the draft law governs the issue of the VAT refund claimed for recovery before February 1, 2016, but denied by the SFS as of 1 January 2017 (the taxpayers were not entitled for budget refund) and in respect of which the court decision to grant budgetary refund to the tax payer has become effective.Thus, the draft law will ensure fair conditions for the tax payers during the period of referring to the provisions of the Tax Code on the matters of VAT refund from the state budget according to applications registered within the Temporary Registry and on applications in terms of which the administrative and court proceedings have been completed.

To increase the timing for administrative appeal by the taxpayer, while the timing available to the tax authority for providing feedback to the appeal shall be decreased. This timing could be fixed at traditional 30 calendar days for both parties.

Ministry of Finance
State Tax Service of Ukraine

Recommendation is no longer relevant

Systemic report "problems with cross-border trading in Ukraine"

To update the list of cases when the customs authorities may have concerns regarding the accuracy of declared customs value (DCV). In case the customs officer requires additional consultations regarding the customs value of goods, the information source has to be single and clear. In case the customs officer has doubts, he must justify causes of these doubts based on documental evidence.

State Tax Service of Ukraine

Recommendation is no longer relevant

To provide regular training for customs officers in order to improve their capacity for customs valuation. It is critical that Customs officials develop an in-depth understanding of the methods of goods valuation and be able to apply official recommendations and clarifications from the World Customs Organization.

State Tax Service of Ukraine

Recommendation is no longer relevant
— comments: Improvement of the qualification of SFS customs officers is carried out in accordance with the Guideline on professional development of the SFS officials (seminars, trainings, training courses, lectures, round tables, practical classes).