Inform about corruption anonymously using different channels of communication

Press service of the State Tax Service of Ukraine, published 22 April 2020 at 13:23 Chapter: Anticorruption activitiy

Dear citizens and employees of the State Tax Service!

We would like to inform you that when you become aware of possible corruption or corruption-related offenses, you can inform about this in the following ways:

- by using the means of postal communication to the address: 04053, Kyiv, Lvivska Square, 8;

- to the official e-mail address of the Corruption Prevention and Detection Department: upzvk@tax.gov.ua;

- by means of telecommunication, by multichannel telephone number: 0 800 501 007, selecting direction “4” on the interactive voice answering machine, from Monday to Thursday from 9hours 00minutes (9 AM) to 18hours 00minutes (6 PM) and Friday from 9hours 00minutes (9 AM) to 16hours 45minutes (4.45 PM) with daily breaks from 13hours 00 minutes (1 PM) to 13hours 45 minutes (1.45 PM);

- in writing form through employees of the Corruption Prevention and Detection Department of the STS;

- directly by phone to employee of the Corruption Prevention and Detection Department of the STS.

Procedure for organization work with corruption notifications made by the whistle-blowers at bodies of the State Tax Service is regulated by the Order of the State Tax Service as of 27.02.2020 № 108, which can be accessed at the following link: https://tax.gov.ua/diyalnist-/zakonodavstvo-pro-diyalnis/nakazi-pro-diyalnist/74413.html.

If necessary, by phone: (044) 247-30-44, 247-35-97, it is possible to get clarification from employees of the Corruption Prevention and Detection Department regarding corruption offenses.

Corruption notification can be carried out by both tax officials and business representatives, without attribution, ie anonymously using any communication channel.

The whistle-blower has no legal responsibility for notification about possible corruption or corruption-related offenses, other violations of the Law of Ukraine “On corruption prevention”, spread of information stated in the message, despite the possible breach of such official, civil, labor or other duties or obligations. 

Such an anonymous notification about violation of legislation will be subject to mandatory processing if provided information is related to specific individual and contains factual data that can be verified.

Whistle-blower who informed about corruption offense is entitled to receive a remuneration monetary amount of which is subject to or caused to the state by damages is 5000 times or more than the minimum subsistence level for able-bodied individuals prescribed by the law at the time of a crime.

Amount of remuneration is 10% of the monetary amount of corruption object of crime or amount of damage caused to the state after the conviction of the court and may not exceed 3000 minimum wages established at the time of a crime.

In each case court determines specific amount of payable remuneration, taking into account the criteria of personality and importance of information.

In the absence of at least one of the above mentioned criteria, the court may decide to refuse to pay the remuneration.

It should be reminded that on the 1^st of January 2020 came into force the Law of Ukraine as of 17.10.2019 № 198-IX “On amendments to the Law of Ukraine “On corruption prevention” regarding the whistle-blowers” which defines the legal status of whistle-blowers, establishes their rights, guarantees and mechanisms for protection of such individuals and their equals.

Whistle-blower is an individual who, in the presence of the belief that the information is reliable, informed about possible facts of corruption or corruption-related offenses, other violations of the Law of Ukraine “On corruption prevention” committed by another individual, if such information became known to him / her in connection with employment, professional, business, social, scientific, service or training activities, or their participation in procedures required by the law to commence such activity, service or training.

Whistle-blowers have now been recognized as witnesses in cases of administrative offenses related to corruption, in accordance with the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses.

Such individuals are under the protection of the state – such a right arises to them immediately upon the notification about possible facts of corruption by other individuals.

They are guaranteed safeguards regarding anonymity and non-disclosure of information, prohibition of dismissal or coercion to dismiss, disciplinary action or exposure to other managerial or negative influence by the manager or employer (transfer, certification, change of working conditions, refusal of appointment, dismissal reduction of wages, etc.) or the threat of such measures of influence in connection with their notification of violation of requirements of this Law by another individual.