Ukraine must adopt a law introducing VAT on cheap imported parcels (up to €150), otherwise it risks disrupting an $8.1 billion financing program from the International Monetary Fund.
Ukraine must adopt a law introducing VAT on cheap imported parcels (up to €150), otherwise it risks disrupting an $8.1 billion financing program from the International Monetary Fund.
As Reuters reports, citing a source close to the negotiations, this is one of the key points before the IMF program review, which is due to take place in June 2026. According to the agency’s interlocutor, the issue of parcel taxation «has become one of the key ones,» and without the adoption of the relevant law, the review may not take place, which will have «negative consequences» for financing.
Currently, in Ukraine, parcels worth up to €150 are not subject to VAT — this model is actively used when shopping on international marketplaces, in particular AliExpress and Temu. The introduction of the tax could bring the budget about UAH 10 billion per year, the Ministry of Finance estimates.
At the same time, it is proposed to maintain the exemption for non-commercial shipments up to €45, and the tax itself is not planned to be introduced before 2027.
This requirement is part of a broader package of reforms that Ukraine has committed to implementing under a new IMF program approved in February. The program is effectively an «anchor» for all international assistance: its implementation unlocks funding not only from the IMF, but also from the European Commission and other partners. If the program fails, Ukraine risks losing access to these funds as well.
The situation is complicated by domestic politics.A draft law on taxation of parcels has already been submitted to parliament, but it was not even brought up for consideration due to a lack of support among deputies. Earlier, the Verkhovna Rada also did not support other tax initiatives important to the IMF, in particular, the introduction of VAT for individual entrepreneurs.
After talks with IMF officials in Washington in mid-April, Prime Minister Yulia Svirydenko said that implementing such a tax was «not constructive» at this time and Ukraine would look for alternatives. According to Reuters sources, the tax itself may be postponed, and negotiations are ongoing.
What do Nova Poshta, Meest, and Ukrposhta think about taxation? dev.ua wrote here.
