Plus 20% to the budget from excise tax and fight against "schemes": Kravchenko met with players of the alcohol industry
Kyiv • UNN
The leadership of the State Tax Service discussed with associations of the alcohol industry issues of combating the shadow market, counterfeiting, and implementing an electronic excise stamp. Excise revenues increased by 20%.
The Head of the State Tax Service of Ukraine, Ruslan Kravchenko, discussed with associations of the alcohol industry issues of combating the shadow market, counterfeiting, the introduction of an electronic excise stamp, and the revision of minimum prices for alcohol, and noted the growth of excise revenues to the budget, UNN writes.
Details
The meeting was attended by representatives of five associations of the alcohol industry: Legal Alcohol Producers, the Federation of Employers of the Alcohol Industry, Ukrvynprom, Ukrvodka, Ukrsadvynprom.
"We talked about everything that worries us: excise tax, the shadow market, license annulment, support for Ukrainian producers," Ruslan Kravchenko wrote on Facebook.
Growth in excise revenue
As Kravchenko noted, the alcohol industry is one of the budget-forming ones. "We value businesses that operate transparently, without schemes, provide jobs, and fill the budget," emphasized the head of the STS.
According to Kravchenko, for January-February 2025, excise tax revenues increased compared to the same period in 2024:
- from produced alcoholic beverages – UAH 2.2 billion (+20%);
- from imported alcoholic beverages – UAH 416.5 million (+9%).
Combating shadow schemes
The Tax Service continues its active fight against tax evasion. In the first two months of 2025, more than 2.3 thousand inspections were conducted, as a result of which 1.4 thousand violations were identified. Financial sanctions totaling UAH 229 million were imposed, and 436 licenses were revoked.
"During the meeting, I clearly outlined my position: for me, everyone is equal, I am open to cooperation with those who work honestly, pay taxes. Because there are those who declare their transparency only in words. But in reality, we establish facts of tax evasion amounting to hundreds of millions of hryvnias, including by well-known companies - which the STS literally recently reported. Work legally, pay taxes honestly - then we can have a dialogue," Kravchenko noted.
The problem of counterfeiting
One of the urgent issues for the alcohol industry remains the fight against counterfeit products.
"I appreciate the business's initiative in combating counterfeiting. But if you really want results - act. You know where it's produced - contact law enforcement. You know where it's sold - file a complaint with the STS. This issue is under my personal control. We need facts and concrete actions. The STS is determined to react harshly. We are not here for show, we are here to bring order together," emphasized the head of the STS.
Introduction of electronic excise stamp
"We also discussed the introduction of an electronic excise stamp. The key step is the implementation of the Electronic Traceability System," Kravchenko noted.
It is designed to ensure full control over the production and circulation of alcoholic beverages. The system is currently undergoing testing, and a full launch is planned for January 1, 2026.
According to him, the STS has already provided the Ministry of Digital Transformation with the necessary information for the system's test mode, including data from licensee registers, storage locations, and production equipment. In the future, this information may be exchanged within the framework of interagency cooperation.
Other industry issues
Special attention during the meeting was paid to the annulment of licenses, the revision of minimum prices for alcohol, and the conduct of tax audits.
"The STS is always ready to support initiatives that facilitate business operations. But the conditions must be equal for everyone, and everyone must pay taxes," Kravchenko summarized.