6 Серпня 2026

Ukraine’s Tax Reform Agenda Gains Momentum in 2026

The first half of 2026 has been one of the busiest periods for Ukrainian tax reform in recent years. Driven by the country’s EU integration ambitions, commitments under the IMF programme, and the need to strengthen public finances during wartime, Ukraine continues to modernise its tax framework while seeking to create a more transparent and competitive business environment.

One of the most significant legislative developments is Parliament’s adoption of draft law No. 15111-d, which introduces a new framework for the taxation of income earned through digital platforms and implements the EU’s DAC7 reporting standards. The reform forms part of Ukraine’s broader commitments to the IMF, the European Union, and the OECD, aiming to increase transparency in the digital economy while harmonising domestic tax rules with international standards. The legislation applies to both Ukrainian and foreign platform operators active in the Ukrainian market — including ride-hailing, delivery, accommodation rental and online marketplaces — and will require them to identify reportable sellers, register with the Ukrainian tax authorities and submit annual reports for the purposes of international information exchange. Most provisions are expected to take effect from January 1, 2027, while the first automatic exchange of information is scheduled for 2028 in respect of the 2027 reporting year. At the same time, the legislation introduces a simplified tax regime for qualifying individuals earning income through digital platforms, with platform operators acting as withholding agents, while also reducing compliance burdens by eliminating the proposed requirement to use dedicated bank accounts or disclose banking information.

Another major trend is the growing influence of the IMF programme on Ukraine’s tax policy roadmap. According to the updated structural benchmarks agreed with the IMF in June 2026, the government will continue reforming the simplified tax regime, with the primary objective of addressing long-standing abuses rather than increasing the tax burden for genuine small businesses. The authorities committed to introducing rules targeting artificial business splitting, where larger businesses operate through multiple individual entrepreneurs (FOPs), as well as disguised employment arrangements. At the same time, Ukraine plans to strengthen measures against international transfer pricing abuse, continue modernising tax administration through risk-based audits, and further reform the Economic Security Bureau and Customs Service. Although the introduction of mandatory VAT registration for certain simplified taxpayers remains on the agenda, the relevant legislation has been postponed until at least January 1, 2028.

Another closely watched proposal concerns the taxation of low-value international parcels. The legislation, which aims to abolish the current VAT exemption for imported parcels below the existing threshold, has not yet been adopted following political opposition. Nevertheless, the IMF agreed to postpone — rather than remove — this commitment, giving Parliament additional time to approve the legislation. The proposed reform seeks to eliminate distortions between domestic businesses, which already charge VAT, and foreign online marketplaces that currently benefit from preferential treatment. Similar VAT rules have already been implemented across the European Union, making the proposal another step towards harmonising Ukraine’s indirect tax system with EU practices.

Taken together, these developments demonstrate that Ukraine’s tax reform agenda extends well beyond raising revenues. Instead, the government is gradually building a tax system centred on transparency, digitalisation, and fair competition while bringing Ukrainian legislation closer to EU and OECD standards. Although many of the reforms are still awaiting implementation, businesses should closely monitor these initiatives, as they are likely to reshape compliance obligations and the broader tax landscape over the coming years.

Sayenko Kharenko Is the Only Law Firm Shortlisted in All Four Ukrainian Categories at the ITR Europe Tax Awards 2026

Sayenko Kharenko has been shortlisted in four Ukrainian categories at the ITR Europe Tax Awards 2026: Indirect Tax Law Firm of the Year, Tax Litigation Law Firm of the Year, Transfer Pricing Law Firm of the Year and Tax Law Firm of the Year.

Sayenko Kharenko is the only law firm to appear across all four Ukrainian law firm categories. The shortlist reflects the breadth of the firm’s tax practice, spanning transactional tax advice, tax litigation, transfer pricing and complex cross-border tax matters. Over the past year, the firm’s tax team handled approximately 100 complex tax disputes with a combined value of over USD 100 million.

The ITR Europe Tax Awards recognise leading law firms and advisers across Europe based on independent research and market feedback.

The winners will be announced at the ITR Europe Tax Awards 2026 gala on September 17 at The Londoner, Leicester Square, London.

Sayenko Kharenko is a leading Ukrainian full-service law firm advising domestic and international clients on complex commercial, regulatory and dispute matters. The firm has been involved in many of Ukraine’s most significant cross-border transactions, financings, and disputes, and is consistently recognised by IFLR1000, Chambers Europe, Legal 500, Managing IP, IAM Patent 1000, and other leading international legal directories.

Sayenko Kharenko Leads the Market in Chambers Europe 2026

In 2026, Sayenko Kharenko leads the Ukrainian legal market by the number of individually recognised lawyers, with 17 lawyers achieving 20 individual rankings – the highest result among law firms in Ukraine.

Chambers Europe, a leading independent legal directory, assesses firms through rigorous research, including client interviews and peer review. Its rankings are widely regarded as one of the most trusted benchmarks in the legal industry.

The firm maintains leading positions across its core practices, including Corporate/M&A (Band 1), Banking & Finance (Band 1) and Competition/Antitrust (Band 1). Its dispute practices remain consistently ranked, covering both Dispute Resolution: International (Band 2) and Dispute Resolution: Domestic (Band 3). Employment is ranked Band 2.

The firm is also recognised in Intellectual Property (Band 3), Restructuring/Insolvency (Spotlight) and Tax (Spotlight), reflecting its ability to support clients across the full spectrum of business-critical legal matters.