Briefly — why this matters
On March 19 the Ministry of Finance published a new tax bill that combines four key requirements of the memorandum with the International Monetary Fund. Adoption must take place by the end of March — this will determine whether Ukraine receives the IMF’s second tranche in June 2026. For Ukrainians this means concrete changes to taxation of platform income, VAT rules for imported purchases, and the status of individual entrepreneurs.
What the bill proposes
1. Tax on income from digital platforms — preferential rate 5%. Automatic taxation of platform income at a 5% rate with a tax-free minimum of €2,000 per year. If income exceeds this threshold, tax is withheld on the excess amount. The preference applies under conditions: opening a separate bank account for platform income, status — not self-employed, no hired employees, no trading in excisable goods, annual limit — up to UAH 7.2 million (834 times the minimum wage). Uklon, Bolt, Uber and Glovo have already declared their support for these changes.
2. Extension of the military levy. Military levy rates introduced during martial law (for individuals — 5%) will remain in effect until the Verkhovna Rada adopts a decision to complete the Armed Forces reform.
3. VAT on goods from foreign marketplaces. VAT must be added and paid by the trading platform itself; exemption is provided only for parcels up to €45 if they are sent by individuals for non-commercial purposes. LIGA.net has already explained the reasons and arguments in favor of this step.
4. VAT for some individual entrepreneurs (FOP). From January 1, 2027, payers of the simplified system with annual income above UAH 4 million must become VAT payers. LIGA.net published practical advice for FOPs on preparing for these changes.
Who will feel the changes and how
The changes will most directly affect: freelancers and platform workers who earn income from services like Uber/Bolt; simplified-system entrepreneurs with income around or above UAH 4 million; those who regularly buy from foreign marketplaces. For the state this means an expanded tax base and partial automation of tax revenue collection.
"The IMF is 'an anchor that draws all other programs toward itself.' Therefore the Cabinet of Ministers cannot fail to take the IMF's position into account."
— Danylo Hetmantsev, chair of the Verkhovna Rada’s Tax Committee
Political and geoeconomic context
A delay in adoption has real consequences: without fulfilling the memorandum's conditions, Ukraine risks not receiving the next IMF tranche. At the same time, the blocking of an EU loan (the question of €90 billion due to the positions of Hungary and Slovakia) and the escalation in the Middle East, which raises Russia’s revenues, only increase the need for stable international financing for Ukraine.
What’s next and what to expect
Plenary sessions of the Verkhovna Rada begin on March 24 — that is when politicians must show whether they are ready to turn technical agreements with the IMF into law. If voting takes place on time, it will open the way to the next tranche in June 2026. If not — the risks of financial instability will grow.
Question for society and business: can deputies find a compromise between the short-term political costs of the reforms and the long-term need for international financial support? What’s at stake is not an abstract "tranche" but the state’s solvency and the ability to finance defense and reconstruction.
