You're reading: Chief tax officer: Tax payment rate hits 96% in Ukraine in 2011

The level of the voluntary payment of taxes by Ukrainians in 2011 was 96%, according to the chief of Ukraine's State Tax Service Oleksandr Klymenko.

"In 2011, the level of tax payments was 96%. This is a very good indicator – of course it’s not 100% yet, but we’re getting there. Even Europe cannot boast 100%," he said in an interview with Ukrainian television’s Fifth Channel on Tuesday evening.

He said there are a large number of clichés about the tax service in the country. However, Klymenko said that "we’re meeting businesses halfway, and claims about there being an increase in the number of checks or pressure do not correspond to reality."

He also said that his service in 2011 introduced a range of different systems aimed at improving the investment climate in the country and making it easier to do business in Ukraine.