The consumer electronics market in Ukraine has always been famous for the uncontrolled flow of smuggling equipment, and it was served by a number of reasons: corrupt fiscal services and imperfect legislation that helped retailers sell smuggled goods on the Ukrainian market without any documents confirming the origin of the goods, and of course, without payment Taxes to the budget.
After the dignity revolution, there was a hope for justice and a shameful economy, but it soon became clear that the fight against smuggling resembled the fight against the windmills. For example, the experience of such a struggle in the Odessa customs for the past 1.5 years has shown that it is unrealistic to bring order in a separate area, as gray streams of smuggling in particular household appliances immediately flowed into neighboring areas, where it is much easier to negotiate with customs officers.
Many experts have come to the unanimous view that the most effective way is to make it impossible to sell the infamous iPhone smuggling without paying all taxes and providing a corporate guarantee throughout Ukraine.
To the joy of honest business December 6, the Verkhovna Rada adopted in the first reading an important bill – 5132, which contains an effective point on the shadowing of the electronics market, namely the mandatory introduction of PPD into a complex household appliances. It is obvious that all participants of the electronics market who sell their goods without cash registers violate the limit on turnover of 1 million UAH. Per year, and it’s impossible to check it. Such an easy and impersonal way to sell any smuggling without paying taxes is not in any country, Russia, Belarus, Moldova or even Africa.
Many online electronics stores sell a few million hryvnias a day, and at the same time they issue a check from the FOP of the 2 nd group, and in the worst give the left checks with a stamp of non-existent Jur. The name of the store.
These entrepreneurs often unknowingly stimulate corruption and the shadow economy, as their entire black cache moves further towards gray importers, corrupt customs officers and shadow converters who send foreign currencies with additional pressure on the cash dollar rate.
Also, consumers who do not receive an official fiscal check are often faced with the problem of warranty service and the lack of legal remedies.
In the history of modern Ukraine, there were several attempts to introduce obligatory PPOs, but given the lobbying of groups of people who find it extremely unprofitable to stop such a large flow of gray money under the threats of the “tax Maidan” and the tacit consent of the people, these initiatives have consistently failed.
This time, despite the fact that the unified taxation system does not change and obligatory RROs are introduced only for the market of complex home appliances, SO “Fortress” writes letters to the Verkhovna Rada asking to cancel this norm and thus actually declares itself the lawyers of smugglers And the shadow economy.
The issue of a mandatory cash register does not cause controversy among political opponents of any western countries, since nothing else has been invented in terms of sales control and tax payments in the world. Moreover, in many EU countries fines were imposed on buyers who do not take fiscal checks at the point of sale.
The main argument against the introduction of PPO for entrepreneurs was the high cost and the complexity of installing cash equipment, but after adopting the bill 4117 in first reading, thanks to which any tablet or smartphone can perform the function of the PPO and issue a fiscal check, all these arguments lose their weight.
Now questions to the Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada, faction chairmen and people’s elected representatives, whether they have a political will in the matter of shadowing the economy in at least one electronic segment of the market or continue to buy a smuggled iPhone and will once again go about the populists and pseudo advocates of the entrepreneurs who pursue in reality Completely different goals.
If the Verkhovna Rada nevertheless accepts these amendments, then the entrepreneurs will not suffer, but using the PPO and, with their toll-free payments, pull their suppliers out of the shadows. Moreover, the risks of entrepreneurs who drag around the country black cash sharply reduced. Also, all consumers who receive an honest fiscal check and warranty service will win, Western investments in transparent electronic retailers, production will take place and, of course, there will be sharp budget filling for many billion UAH.
In the nearest future in Cherkassy it is planned to open two new household appliances factories. Adoption of this bill would be a powerful signal for investors that it is possible to invest in Ukraine and that all investors, both internal and external, are on an equal footing.
About the results of the second vote on the bill 5132 and the rules of the RRO for the market of complex home appliances, we will know in the coming days.
Dmitry Derevyanko
Ukrainian Association of Manufacturers
