Ruslan Kravchenko: there is recorded increase in the excise tax revenues from alcoholic beverages

Excise tax revenues increased in January – February 2025 compared to the same period last year:

from produced alcoholic beverages – 2.2 billion UAH (+20% compared to 2024),

from imported alcoholic beverages – 416.5 million UAH (+9% compared to 2024).

This was stated by Head of the State Tax Service Ruslan Kravchenko during the meeting with representatives of 5 associations of the alcohol industry: Legal Alcohol Producers, Federation of Alcohol Employers, Ukrainian Corporation for Viticulture and Wine Production Industry “Ukrvinprom, Ukrvodka, Ukrsadvinprom.

Discussion topics included: excise tax, shadow market, cancellation of licenses and support for Ukrainian producers.

As Ruslan Kravchenko noted, the State Tax Service is actively working to stop shadow schemes in the alcohol market. Therefore, more than 2.3 thousand audits have already been carried out in two months of this year, almost 1.4 thousand violations have been identified, financial sanctions amounted to 229 million UAH and 436 licenses have been canceled.

"For me, everyone is equal, I am open to cooperation with those who work honestly and pay taxes. There are those who declare their transparency only in words. But in reality, we establish tax evasion facts worth hundreds of millions UAH, including by well-known companies – which the State Tax Service just recently reported. Work legally, pay taxes honestly – then we can have a dialogue" – emphasized Head of the State Tax Service.

He also noted initiative of business in the counteraction against counterfeiting and called on the law enforcement agencies to report any discovered facts of illegal production of alcohol, and the State Tax Service to report about any sales of such counterfeit products.

"This question is under my personal control. We need facts and concrete actions. State Tax Service is determined to react harshly. We are here to renew order together" – emphasized Ruslan Kravchenko.

Participants also discussed electronic excise marks. A key step is implementation of the Electronic traceability system. It should provide full control over production and circulation of alcoholic beverages. It is currently being tested and its full launch should be from January 1, 2026.

State Tax Service provided the Ministry of Digital Economy with necessary information regarding data from registers of licensees, storage locations and equipment for tobacco production for operation of the Electronic system in a test mode, and the possibility of exchanging such information in order of interagency interaction in the future.

Special attention was also paid to cancellation of licenses, revision of the minimum prices for alcohol, and conduction of tax audits.