Ukraine is preparing for large-scale changes in the system of calculating fines and administrative fees. Starting from January 1, 2026, it is planned to abandon the use of the subsistence minimum as the basic calculation unit. Relevant provisions are contained in draft law No. 13469, which was published on the website of the Verkhovna Rada.
The initiator of the changes was a group of people’s deputies headed by the Speaker of the Parliament Ruslan Stefanchuk. Instead of a subsistence minimum, it is proposed to introduce separate fixed rates for fines and administrative fees. They will be approved every year in the law on the state budget. The project provides that starting from 2026, such rates will amount to at least 2028 hryvnias.
The changes will apply to a number of normative acts, in particular economic, civil and administrative procedural codes, as well as laws on state registration of legal entities and sole proprietorships, on real property rights, land cadastre, provision of administrative services, etc.
The explanatory note emphasizes that the use of the subsistence minimum not for its direct purpose, but as a conditional calculation indicator, deprives it of its social function. This approach causes misunderstandings, undermines the effectiveness of social policy and reduces citizens’ trust in state guarantees.
“The current practice does not allow to adequately provide for citizens. The use of the subsistence minimum in financial and legal matters leads to the distortion of its essence as a social reference point.” – the document says.
It is expected that the introduction of the new model will contribute to a clear distinction between the social and technical meaning of the subsistence minimum. This will make fines and administrative payments more stable and predictable, as well as create grounds for a real increase in the living wage in accordance with the real economic needs of the population. As a result, this initiative can become the basis for a deeper reform of the entire social security system in Ukraine.
