Is there a plan to increase VAT - the Ministry of Finance has answered

There are no plans to raise the value added tax in Ukraine at present, although such a possibility was previously discussed with international partners.

This was stated at a press conference by Finance Minister Sergii Marchenko, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

According to the official, during consultations with Ukraine's international partners, in particular, with representatives of the IMF, the issue of changing the VAT rate was discussed. However, due to the adoption of a realistic budget for next year, such a scenario is out of the question now.

"Yes, the issue was raised. Yes, there were agreements on the conditions under which we would return to the idea of raising the value added tax. In particular, it was assumed that if the expenditures for 2025 between the first and second readings of the budget bill increase significantly, the source of their coverage will be an increased VAT. At the same time, we were convinced that there were no grounds for a significant tax increase. That's why we agreed to such an agreement," Marchenko said.

According to him, such a condition was not included in any of the programs of cooperation between Ukraine and its partners as a structural beacon or criterion for evaluation. And after the adoption of a realistic budget for the next year, there is no need to make any decisions regarding VAT.

At the same time, the official admitted that, given the unpredictable situation, especially in the combat zone, this issue has not completely disappeared from the agenda.

"It (the issue of raising VAT - ed.) will constantly arise. It will depend on how we fulfill our other obligations, how well we implement our fiscal policy, and how much this issue will be actualized. But if we do well with revenues, if the taxes we have already raised (the amendments to the Tax Code signed by the President) prove effective, if we fulfill all our obligations, if there is no need to increase spending sharply, I think we will not raise the issue of raising VAT. At least, there are no such plans," the Minister of Finance assured.