The Governmental Portal reports, quoting the MINISTRY OF FINANCE OF UKRAINE.
Today, under the instruction of Minister of Finance Alexander Danyliuk the State Fiscal Service has published the order, which should solve one of key problems of business. The initiated changes will significantly reduce the number of groundless criminal proceedings in regard to business.
It should be reminded that SFS initiated criminal proceedings, based on the results of tax audits, which were the subject of the appeal in court. In most cases the real evidence of crime was absent. Thus, as per information of business ombudsman Shemeta, in 2015 1748 criminal proceedings were initiated, while in total only 55 were submitted to court with charges. While SFS searched for several dozens of violators, more than thousand and a half of enterprises were exposed to real pressure.
This issue was raised by the representatives of business at the meeting on July 12. For solving this issue the Minister gave the order to SFS Chairman to settle this matter.
From now the materials of tax audits will be submitted to tax police only after final completion of all administrative and judicial procedures of appeals. That is, the criminal cases will be initiated upon the availability of evidence of crime.
This means that SFS will not be able to put pressure on business groundlessly and with bias, if there is no confirmation of elements of crime. If the entrepreneur does not agree with SFS decision regarding his obligations and submits appeals to the court, then the criminal proceeding will be initiated only if the investigator finds real evidence of a crime.
This operational decision should significantly reduce the number of groundless criminal cases against business and create best conditions for development of business activities.
The complex SFS reform should consistently and fully resolve the situation, which the Tax Committee of the Verkhovna Rada, the Ministry of Finance and experts are currently working on. The next step will be the liquidation of tax police.
