The State Tax Service of Ukraine has launched a large-scale audit of citizens who sell goods through online platforms. Thousands of Ukrainians have already received letters demanding that they appear at the tax office for explanations — due to receiving transfers, in particular from NovaPay.
The State Tax Service of Ukraine has launched a large-scale audit of citizens who sell goods through online platforms. Thousands of Ukrainians have already received letters demanding that they appear at the tax office for explanations — due to receiving transfers, in particular from NovaPay.
As Economic Truth reports, in early May, more than 3,000 individuals received letters with the wording «signs of conducting economic activity without state registration.» This applies to transfers from NovaPay — the payment system of Nova Poshta — which transfers data on recipients of funds to the tax office. A total of 212 out of more than 3,000 individuals turned out to be registered as individual entrepreneurs, the rest were potential violators of tax legislation.
Amendments to the Ministry of Finance Order No. 317 came into force on March 1, 2024, requiring payment systems to detail not only the payer’s data but also the recipient’s data in fiscal checks. These changes actually opened up access to information about recipients of payments with the comment «for goods» — especially if this happens regularly.
These are mainly users of platforms such as OLX, Prom.ua, as well as marketplaces such as Rozetka or Ukrposhta clients. Regularity becomes a key signal for the State Tax Service: for example, two or three transfers per month, even for small amounts, can be interpreted as «systematic economic activity.»
«Because of 200 hryvnias — system activity?» — is indignant one of the Facebook users who received a call after two transfers from NovaPay.
If the tax authority recognizes the activity as entrepreneurial, but without appropriate registration, the person faces a fine under Article 164 of the Code of Administrative Offenses — from 17 thousand to 34 thousand hryvnias for the first violation, and up to 85 thousand hryvnias for a repeat violation.
It is also possible to assess additional taxes, submit a report to the court, and, under certain conditions, initiate criminal proceedings (for example, in the case of a large amount of funds or tax evasion in particularly large amounts).
At the same time, one-time sales of personal belongings are not considered business activities. If a person can prove that they did not sell goods on a regular basis, the fine can be avoided.
In a comment to «EP», the State Tax Service confirmed that the checks have only just begun, and the mass sending of «happiness letters» will continue. Delivery platforms and marketplaces have already been warned: data will be sent to the State Tax Service regularly.
Financiers advise those who constantly sell something online to either switch to legal activities or use services without direct fiscalization of transfers — although the latter may also be regulated in the future.
Recall that we also recently wrote that in Ukraine, attackers are sending fake emails allegedly on behalf of the State Tax Service of Ukraine.
