Finance Ministry promises to cut number of checks on farmers, accelerate VAT administration

The number of inspections of agricultural producers in 2016 could be reduced, the Finance Ministry of Ukraine is also trying to speed up VAT administration farmers, Deputy Finance Minister Olena Makeyeva has said at a briefing in Kyiv.

"We have finalized software for farmers, and the State Treasury Service last week began paying VAT refunds to those paying taxes under the special regime, i.e. to farmers," she specified.

According to the official, the conditions of VAT refunds became more complicated after the terms of taxation for farmers had been changed, but it is premature to assess risks.

"This is not the relief of tax administration, but we will do everything to reduce the number of inspections and improve the rate of tax administration," Makeyeva added.

Finance Minister Natalie Jaresko at the briefing noted that the separation of three categories of taxpayers within the VAT regime for farmers was not an initiative of the government, and such a form of VAT administration for farmers will be retained only for 2016.