Violators of minimum salary requirements in the retail sale of excisable products risk to lose 3 thousand licenses. 

This was informed by acting Head of the State Tax Service Lesya Karnaukh on the Facebook page.

Business entities that retail alcohol, tobacco products and e-cigarette liquids will have clear minimum salary requirements from October 2025.

- for licensees within and 50 km from regional centers:

2 minimum salary amounts (in 2025 – 16 thousand UAH, in 2026 – 17 294 UAH),

- for licensees outside these limits and with sales area of ​​less than 500 square meters: 1.5 times minimum salary (in 2025 – 12 thousand UAH, in 2026 – 12 970.5 UAH).

Violators of these requirements may lose their licenses.

“State Tax Service constantly monitors whether business entities comply with these requirements. In February – March 2026, risks were confirmed for almost 6.6 thousand business entities at once. For three months in a row, they ignored established requirements. This is direct reason for terminating the license” – noted acting Head of the State Tax Service. 

What the State Tax Service has done:

- already conducted 1.5 thousand actual audits

- inspected 23% of licensees with confirmed risks

- terminated or in the terminating process more than 2.9 thousand licenses

By the way, the problem with salaries is not the only violation that the State Tax Service has identified. 

“We also record other standard violations: sale of excisable products without excise stamps or with counterfeits, violating established prices, not issuing fiscal checks, and working without RRO/PRRO. Violators were fined for almost 17 million UAH” – Lesya Karnaukh added.

Those entrepreneurs who were not ready for the new rules have already left the market. Number of licensees decreased by 3 thousand – from 56.1 to 52.9 thousand. 

Number of licenses also decreased by 8 thousand – from 167.2 to 158.6 thousand.

“Constant communication between the State Tax Service and business has positive result – business complies with established requirements. Working transparently and honestly, paying real salary is much more profitable than risking license” – acting Head of the State Tax Service added.