Hetmantsev: Ukraine's shadow economy exceeds UAH 1 trillion
This was reported by The Public, citing an interview given by Danylo Getmantsev, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Financial, Tax and Customs Policy, to Forbes.
The head of the parliamentary tax committee, Danylo Getmantsev, said that the total volume of the shadow economy, which evades taxation, exceeds UAH 1 trillion.
According to him, in 2023, about $1.5 billion was brought out of the shadow sector, in 2024 — $2.5 billion, and in 2025, this figure was projected to grow to $4 billion.
At the same time, Getmantsev expressed concern about the implementation of the state budget. He noted that for the first time since 2022, there was a 2.6% shortfall in tax revenues, amounting to about UAH 33 billion.
According to him, the biggest concern is the decline in the tobacco industry, as well as the underperformance of certain state bodies.
He noted that previously, it had been possible to significantly reduce tax evasion in the fuel sector, as well as in the alcohol and tobacco markets. At the same time, there are now signs of a setback, which, in his opinion, is due to the insufficient effectiveness of the Economic Security Bureau. He also criticised the lack of a full-fledged restart of this body.
Hetmantsev stressed that one of the key results of de-shadowing is a change in the attitude of business and society towards paying taxes and complying with the same rules.
He also recalled that the parliamentary committee initiated the creation of the Economic Security Bureau and is working on legislative changes to restart it, as well as reforming customs.
Earlier, Getmantsev pointed out that in certain industries, companies are increasing their supply volumes and revenues, but at the same time reducing their tax payments to the budget.
