Despite reports in the mass media about the mass closure of individual entrepreneurs (FPOs) after the introduction of changes to the tax legislation, statistics show the reverse process - a significant increase in the number of new FOPs in 2024. This was confirmed by the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Finance, Tax and Customs Policy, Danylo Hetmantsev, noting that over the past 11 months, the number of newly created enterprises has increased by 83,600, despite certain problems faced by entrepreneurs.
According to Hetmantsev, as of December 1, 2024, there are more than 2 million FOPs in Ukraine, of which 272,900 were registered this year. Over the past two months, the number of new registrations exceeded the number of discontinued enterprises by 7 thousand - 47.7 thousand new FOPs against 40.7 thousand closed ones. This, according to Hetmantsev, indicates a positive balance and refutes fears about the mass closure of businesses.
According to data from Opendatabot, a significant influx of closed businesses was observed after the signing of the tax increase law, which provoked more than 22.5 thousand closed FOPs in the first three weeks after the law came into force. A huge number of entrepreneurs were forced to close due to increased tax obligations and reporting complications. Statistics show that every week there are large losses of small businesses, in particular due to difficulties with financial optimization.
Hetmantsev, however, questioned the dramatic conclusions of the mass media, which claim mass closures of FOPs. He emphasized that the simplified taxation system is still popular among small entrepreneurs, although not always for business development, but often for tax optimization of medium and large businesses.
However, these changes have become sensitive for small businesses. The law on financing the army, which provided for an increase in taxes, somewhat increased the burden on entrepreneurs, forcing many to make a decision to close FOPs. However, according to Hetmantsev, this is not an indicator of the decline of the country's economy, because the changes also gave an impetus to the increase in the number of new registrations.
Despite the unfavorable circumstances, according to Hetmantsev, small business remains an important factor in supporting Ukraine's economic front in wartime conditions. However, there is a need to create stable and predictable conditions for the development of entrepreneurship, which will avoid similar disturbances in the future.
