OLX harshly criticized draft law No. 14025 on taxation of income of users of digital platforms and called on parliamentarians to finalize the document. The company's press service noted that the current wording will hit not big businesses, but ordinary citizens who occasionally sell things online.
According to the draft text, even a one-time sale — for example, books or jackets — will oblige the seller to either pay tax or go through complicated procedures for tax refunds through the tax service. OLX predicts that such requirements will provoke a massive transition of private sellers to direct sales on social networks or other informal channels — with an increase in the risks of fraud and a loss of buyer protection.
The company also warns: additional bureaucratic steps and costs when paying taxes will increase prices for used items. At the same time, OLX supports the idea of tax transparency and harmonization of Ukrainian legislation with EU standards, but proposes specific changes to the project: exceptions for individuals with annual sales of up to 2,000 euros, phased implementation of the norms and dialogue with the market before the law is adopted.
OLX calls on the government and parliament to take into account the opinions of the platform and users so as not to drive the online trading market into the shadows and not to worsen buyer protection.
