Голова податкового комітету ВР Данило Гетмацев
The Committee of the Verkhovna Rada on Finance, Tax and Customs Policy has recognized the actions of law enforcement agencies in the “de-shadowing” of the electronics market as ineffective. In particular, this concerns the sales of Apple equipment.
In the decision, the committee discusses the conclusions of experts about the losses to the state budget due to “grey” trade. It refers to the import of equipment to Ukraine without paying VAT and customs duties, further sales through a network of individual entrepreneurs for cash or cryptocurrency, lack of accounting, and corresponding tax payments from the sale of expensive compact goods: smartphones, laptops, watches, and other equipment. According to their estimates, the losses reach tens of billions of hryvnias per year.
“Yes, for example, according to the information published in mass media and social networks, it became known that before the official sales start of the Apple iPhone 16 smartphones, which was scheduled for September 27, certain retail networks (including Yabko, Yabluka, and TechnoYizhak) began selling gadgets that were likely imported into the territory of Ukraine illegally. The feature of acquiring such illegal equipment was noted as the possibility of paying with the cryptocurrency USDT with the issuance of an expense invoice in hryvnias and the non-issuance of a fiscal receipt,” — stated in the text of the decision.
The committee discussed the results of law enforcement “processing” cases of underestimation of equipment value, use of tax minimization schemes through individual entrepreneurs, lack of fiscal registration and accounting of goods, sale of electronics via delivery services without its presence in the city of sale, cases of illegal import of electronics, etc.
“Based on the discussions during the hearing at the Committee meeting, the members of the Committee, who are deputies, concluded about the insufficient results of the work of law enforcement agencies in the field of combating the ‘shadow’ electronics market”
Deputies heard from the leadership of the State Tax Service, State Customs Service, Bureau of Economic Security, and recommended the following actions to law enforcement agencies:
The listed actions by law enforcement agencies will be carried out throughout 2025. Law enforcement will hear their report on the results of the work on April 1, then reporting will be quarterly. The document mentions Apple equipment three times, which may indicate special attention of the Verkhovna Rada and law enforcement to its trade.
Source: Danylo Hetmantsev