UNLA calls on the state to engage in a public dialogue on the legal status and taxation of lobbying activities
The UNIAN press center in Kyiv hosted an expert discussion “Taxation of Lobbying Activities: Practical Issues and First Clarifications”, where participants discussed practical aspects of implementing the Law of Ukraine “On Lobbying”, the legal status of lobbyists and the need to regulate tax issues in this area.
The participants of the event emphasized that after the entry into force of the lobbying legislation in Ukraine, the legal prerequisites for the development of a new profession have been formed. At the same time, a number of key issues related to the legal status of lobbyists, taxation of their activities and interaction between government agencies remain unresolved.
Oleksiy Shevchuk, Chairman of the Board of the Ukrainian National Lobbyists Association, noted that the main task of the professional community is to protect the independence of the profession and prevent excessive administrative interference in the activities of lobbyists.
According to him, lobbying should be developed as a self-regulated professional activity similar to other independent professions, and the state should provide clear rules of operation and legal guarantees for all market participants.
The panelists paid special attention to the NACP’s published clarifications on the application of lobbying legislation. Representatives of the UNLA emphasized the need for a systematic dialogue between the regulator and the professional community when preparing any official clarifications that may affect the practice of applying the law.
One of the central issues discussed was the taxation of lobbying activities.
Vladyslav Hrytseniuk, Head of the Odesa branch of the Ukrainian National Lobbyists’ Association, drew attention to the lack of clear tax rules for lobbyists and the need to create legal certainty regarding models of professional activity. He emphasized that the professional community does not need special tax benefits, but needs clear and uniform rules for all market participants.
Pavlo Hez, head of the Dnipro branch of the Ukrainian National Lobbyists Association, emphasized that international practice of lobbying regulation is primarily based on the principles of transparency, not on the creation of separate tax regimes for lobbyists. According to him, the key task of the state should be to ensure transparent mechanisms for representing interests and proper legal regulation of the profession.
Valeriya Golovanova, a member of the UNLA, emphasized the need to improve legislation to take into account the specifics of lobbying as an intellectual and analytical profession, which is carried out on a contractual basis and requires proper regulatory regulation.
In her turn, Zhanna Hrushko, the head of the UNLA’s Vinnytsia branch, emphasized that the settlement of tax issues is an important prerequisite for ensuring the transparency of the profession and legal security of lobbying entities.
The discussion also touched upon the issues of documenting lobbyists’ activities, financial reporting, compliance with tax laws, and the need to form a unified state position on the legal status of the profession.
Following the event, the Ukrainian National Lobbyists Association called on representatives of public authorities, relevant committees of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the NACP, the State Tax Service and other stakeholders to engage in an open public dialogue on improving the legal regulation of lobbying activities.
UNLA is convinced that only joint work of the state and the professional community will allow to form transparent, predictable and European rules for the functioning of the lobbying institution in Ukraine.
