Oleksandr Klymenko: Tax Collection Must Reflect Today's Reality in Eastern Ukraine

KIEV, Ukraine, July 31, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

Former Ukrainian Minister of Revenues and Duties Oleksandr Klymenko (http://oleksandrklymenko.com) has commended the State Fiscal Service of Ukraine's decision to postpone taxpaying deadlines for the strife-torn Eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk.  

At the same time, the leader also took the Government to task regarding the lack of support in enabling citizens of the East to easily and effectively pay taxes beyond the current suspension of deadlines.  Klymenko notes that no Government body "wants to deal with the issue of their payment" and there is "utter confusion and misunderstanding of what taxpayers have to do to pay taxes in today's situation."

To overcome taxpaying challenges in the affected conflict zones, Klymenko urges the Ukrainian authorities to develop "creative, unconventional solutions."

Klymenko (http://oleksandrklymenkotaxesukraine.com) offers three key approaches:

1. The Government of Ukraine to pass legislation to recognize the existence of force majeure in Donetsk and Luhansk.

2. The State Fiscal Service to declare that taxpayers living in the volatile region will not be held liable for violation of any tax report submission deadlines and/or delayed payment of taxes.

3. The Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, under the auspices of the State Fiscal Service, to streamline processes - online and through existing taxpayer service centers which Klymenko previously established - for citizens to obtain the necessary documents and provide compliance information.

Klymenko, who served as Minister of Revenues and Duties from December 2012 to February 2014, asserts that "to change taxpayer attitudes in Ukraine, one should not start with mega-concepts, but with simple, user-friendly measures. If not implemented now, then any tax reforms, whoever develops them, will remain ineffective since the state is rapidly losing its most valuable asset - the trust of taxpayers and confidence of its citizens."

For additional information:
Andrey Sokolov, Adviser to Oleksandr Klymenko
[email protected] / +380677658787

SOURCE Office of Oleksandr Klymenko