Finance Ministry, State Tax Service finalizing "cash register in smartphone"

Ukraine's Finance Ministry and the State Tax Service are completing preparations to launch a free fiscal application for the software cash registers, which will soon start operating in test mode.

"Within a month, businesses will be able to get learn about the app's functionality in the taxpayer's electronic office, test it and offer their suggestions for enhancing it," the ministry's press service said on its website on May 29.

"As early as August 1, 2020, the product will be available for everyone to use it in full, free of charge. At the same time, the mandatory use of the cash register software for certain types of operations by individual entrepreneurs of 2-4 taxation  groups will enter into force on January 1, 2021," the report said.

It is noted that the introduction of the new app is an important step towards deshadowing of the economy and creation of equal conditions for doing business, which will allow consumers to verify the availability of an issued receipt in the tax database within minutes.

Buyers will be able to reimburse part of the cost of purchased goods if the receipt is absent or issued in violation of law.

"Given the global digitalization trends, and even more, under quarantine conditions, the launch of the smartphone app is very relevant. We are entering a new level of administration. Businesses are looking forward to this application since it greatly simplifies operations of entrepreneurs. This fiscal app can be easily installed on any smartphone, tablet or laptop. It will be possible to test it soon," the press service quoted Ukrainian Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko as saying.

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The launch of the product was supposed to take place on April 19, but due to quarantine measures, the deadline was postponed, which made it possible to finalize the interface

As UNIAN reported earlier, on September 20, 2019, the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, passed a bill allowing the use of software cash registers along with traditional ones, as well as requiring individual entrepreneurs of 2-4 group to use cash transaction registers. At the same time, the introduction of the app will not concern individuals, as well as individual entrepreneurs of the first group of taxation.

The Rada also backed a bill on the deshadowing of settlement transactions, which implies the introduction of the so-called "cashback" tool, that is compensation for the purchase price exceeding UAH 850 (US$31.59) to buyers if a seller violates the settlement procedure.

In March 2020, the parliament passed a bill on easing a number of tax laws to support taxpayers for the quarantine period introduced across the country to counter the coronavirus (COVID 19) pandemic. The document, in particular, provides for the postponement of the mandatory implementation of software cash registers for all single tax payers of 2-4 groups until April 1, 2021.