You're reading: Revenues from excise tax on fuel 30% down in Jan-April

Proceeds from the excise tax on petrol and diesel fuel to the national budget of Ukraine in January-April 2013 decreased by 30.3% compared to the same period in 2012, to Hr 2.388 billion, a source in the Income and Tax Ministry has told Interfax-Ukraine.

According to the source, over the first four months of 2013 the
budget received Hr 1.606 billion in excise taxes on petrol, which is
35.01% less than in 2012. Revenues from the excise duty on diesel fuel
decreased by 16.92%, to Hr 781.676 million.

At the same time, according to the State Statistics Service, in
January-April 2013 petrol consumption in the country declined by 9.5%,
to 1.141 million tonnes, and diesel fuel consumption was down by 5%, to
1.562 million tonnes.

“First of all, the shortfall was formed due to a sharp fall in
customs duties collection by more than 40%. We expect revenues from
imports to rise as domestic fuel production declines. This indicates an
increase in the smuggling of fuel, especially petrol,” said the ministry
expert.

As reported, with reference to data from the Finance Ministry, the
budget of Ukraine in 2012 saw a shortfall of over Hr 4 billion due to
the reduction of legal petrol imports and tax evasion schemes on the
market of motor petrol. The ministry estimates the volume of the shadow
fuel market at 936,900 tonnes.