“The privilege should be removed”: Rada plans to discuss taxation of parcels worth up to 150 euros again

In the Verkhovna Rada, the final stage of preparation of the draft law, which provides for the taxation of international parcels with a value of up to 150 euros, is underway. This was announced by the chairman of the tax committee of the parliament, Danylo Hetmantsev, during a discussion at the event “Dialogues with NV about the future. Business and war.”

“The benefit of 150 euros must be removed. And now we are finishing the preparation of the corresponding bill, we will introduce it, we will not delay and we will definitely introduce it, despite a certain section of the population that will be dissatisfied.”– Getmantsev said.

Ukraine currently has a customs limit of 150 euros, which exempts from taxation all international parcels worth up to this amount. This means that if the value of the parcel does not exceed 150 euros, and it does not contain prohibited or copyright-infringing goods, and it is properly designed, such a parcel does not need to be cleared by customs and is delivered to the recipient without delays at customs.

Hetmantsev also explained that parcel taxation is supported by both large retail chains and national manufacturers. According to him, the existing benefit creates unequal conditions for domestic manufacturers, who are forced to pay taxes, in particular VAT, while foreign manufacturers, for example, from China, do not pay this tax.

“There can be no distortions in taxation, because it has a destructive effect on the markets. And in this case, for some reason, we support a foreign producer. Because our producer – from light industry to food products – pays VAT, and whoever does it in conditional China, VAT does not pay. From the point of view of public tax policy, it is absolute nonsense and nonsense when we beat people who create jobs, pay taxes, create added value, for the benefit of people we do not even know.”, – emphasized the deputy.

In July 2024, the Ministry of Finance proposed to introduce VAT on parcels worth up to €150, except for postal items worth up to €45 if they are sent free of charge and are not intended for sale. This proposal was originally included in the tax increase bill, but was later removed.

Minister of Finance Serhiy Marchenko noted that the introduction of a tax on parcels up to 150 euros will reduce the volume of shadow imports, which are actively used by online stores to import goods without paying taxes.