The Verkhovna Rada has adopted, at the third attempt, a government bill on the introduction, for the next 12 months, of an additional tax on imports, except for essential goods, at 5-10%.
A total of 237 MPs voted on Dec. 25 for bill No. 156 on stabilizing Ukraine’s balance of payments.
The document says that an additional 10% tax will be introduced for food imports (commodity groups 1-24 under the UKTVED code in Ukraine’s commodity classification for foreign economic activity), and other commodities (groups 25-97) will be taxed at a rate of 5%, starting from January 2015. In addition, commodities brought by individuals into Ukraine are also subject to 10%.
Essential commodities like natural gas, power-generating coal, fuel for nuclear power plants, crude oil and fuel, banknotes and banking metals, humanitarian aid will be exempt from the tax.
Ukrainian Finance Minister Natalie Jaresko said during the parliament’s session that this measure was temporary and that it did not contradict Ukraine’s international cooperation (WTO provisions and agreements with the EU) and was agreed with the IMF. She predicted that the budget would get an additional Hr 17.6 billion thanks to this tax.
The provision on additional tax on imports is contained in bill No. 1563 on the introduction of amendments to the Customs Code of Ukraine, which was supported by 240 MPs at first reading on Dec. 25.
