State Tax Service and VERO have identified cooperation priorities for 2026: focus on the institutional sustainable transformation

Achieved results and priority interaction areas for 2026 within implementation framework of the “Building Trust in the State Tax Service of Ukraine” project were discussed during meeting of the steering committee of joint Ukrainian – Finnish project of the State Tax Service and Tax Administration of Finland (VERO).

According to acting Head of the State Tax Service Lesya Karnaukh, this project provides opportunity for State Tax Service’s specialists to learn from one of the most efficient and transparent tax administrations in Europe.

“For the State Tax Service, this cooperation is not a formality or protocol interaction, but opportunity to learn and gain experience. Each expert mission with the VERO team is a concrete knowledge and a new quality of our institution. Achieved results are a result of joint work and support from Finnish colleagues” – Lesya Karnaukh emphasized.

The State Tax Service and the VERO laid foundation for comprehensive institutional changes in areas of integrity, risk management, security, communications and project management in 2025.

Code of ethical conduct for State Tax Service’s civil servants was developed and adopted with support of the Finnish experts. State Tax Service’s specialists were trained in the Finnish project management model, in particular, in the application of modern project management tools.

Update of the system for measuring trust in the Tax Service has also been launched – the updated survey plan for 2025 – 2026 will be based on Scandinavian practices. In the money laundering combating, the State Tax Service is studying Finnish AML model and preparing its adaptation to Ukrainian conditions.

Parties have identified new cooperation areas aimed at deepening results and integrating developed approaches into operational activities of the State Tax Service for 2026.

Among them:

Deepening institutional risk management

State Tax Service plans to develop a holistic risk management model based on the Finnish practices – from risk identification to their constant monitoring and minimization. The focus is on the unified tools development, reporting standards and expansion of training programs, as well as regular exchange of experience between the VERO experts and the State Tax Service’s specialists.

Strengthening security function

Finnish expertise in organizational and information security is critically important for the State Tax Service. In 2026, it is planned to jointly form a target security model for the Service, conduct assessment of vulnerable areas and prepare a roadmap for development of security function according to modern European standards.

Scaling project approach

Project management is considered the basis for effective reform implementation.

Improving strategic planning

In the context of implementing the National Revenue Strategy, the State Tax Service plans to jointly with the VERO update strategic cycle, develop methodology for monitoring implementation of goals and introduce regular reviews of strategic progress.

Improving trust measurement system

Planned formation completion of internal survey model, including tools for analysis, interpretation and integration of the key trust indicators into the Service’s regular reporting cycles.

Development of communication skills

The State Tax Service and the VERO will continue to work on modernizing communications model – from standards for working with payers to training in crisis and proactive communications and strengthening multi-channel interaction.

“For the State Tax Service, this project is opportunity to renew itself, strengthen citizens’ trust and become more modern, transparent and stronger institution. This is impossible without support of our Finnish colleagues, for which we are grateful to the VERO team and the Government of Finland” – Lesya Karnaukh emphasized.