Government increases VAT efficiency

The press service of the Ministry of Revenue and Duties of Ukraine reports that in January-October 2013 the Value Added Tax (VAT) refund  grew to 45.6 billion UAH, up 15.3% year-on-year.

Experts note that despite all the VAT criticism, the revenues generated by this tax account for half of the general budget. More than half of the revenue is generated by importers, the Information-Analytical Bulletin of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine informs.

In this regard, experts insist on keeping the VAT rate at the current level. According to them, by reducing the VAT rate, we actually help importers make imports less expensive. Therefore, setting a goal to reduce the overall tax burden on businesses, maintaining the VAT rate at the current level while reducing the effective rate of income tax appears more efficient and profitable for the domestic manufacturers.

Experts say the justified VAT criticism has been based on the serious issues with administration of this tax and delays with its refund. With the adoption of the Tax Code and launching an electronic register of tax invoices, the majority of claims businesses had about VAT refund has lost its relevance, as the VAT refund system has greatly improved.

Over the 10 months of 2013, the VAT refunds amounted to 45.6 billion UAH, which is up 6.0 billion UAH or 15, 2% from 2012. Over 43% of this amount (19.7 billion UAH) was refunded automatically. The number of delinquent refunds disputed in court has been declining.

If at the beginning of the year it amounted to 7.2 billion UAH and is now  is 4.75 billion UAH. Experts say the numbers indicate that the government managed to combine the interests of both the state and business in the tax area.