The IMF is demanding that Ukraine impose VAT on parcels in order to keep its funding – Reuters

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is demanding that Ukraine introduce value-added tax (VAT) on parcels worth up to €150 in order to preserve its $8.1 billion in financing.

This was reported by Reuters.

According to the agency, citing sources, the cancellation of the exemption for low-value parcels has become one of the key conditions for the June review of the program.

The IMF program, approved in February, included this requirement. Its review is scheduled for June in order to determine whether Ukraine is meeting the set targets.

“At present, the issue of parcels has become one of the key ones. Without the adoption of this law, the review may not take place, with all the resulting negative consequences,” a source told the agency.

This would mean introducing a 20% VAT on all imported goods in postal shipments, regardless of value. At the same time, for orders from marketplaces, the tax is expected to be automatically included in the price, while the exemption would remain only for parcels exchanged between private individuals worth up to €45.

The government expects that such changes will bring about 10 billion hryvnias a year into the budget and reduce shadow imports. The law is supposed to be adopted by the end of spring 2026 in order to secure further financing.

At the same time, the bill on parcels has not yet even been put to a vote in the Verkhovna Rada.