Mandatory indication of IMEI during the import of phones can provide over 5 billion UAH in additional revenues to the budget annually

 The Director of the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine, Oleksandr Tsyvinskyi, announced on his Telegram channel that the introduction of mandatory indication of IMEI codes of mobile phones in customs declarations during import can provide over 5 billion UAH in additional revenues to the state budget annually. The corresponding norm is an initiative of the ESBU and is intended to strengthen control over the import of electronics and counter "gray" imports.

The corresponding order of the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine has already been signed, and the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine has carried out its state registration.

"This is not a new tax. This is the creation of transparent accounting for the market, where every device will have its identifier already at the stage of import into Ukraine," noted Oleksandr Tsyvinskyi.

IMEI is a unique number for every mobile device. Previously, during customs clearance, this indicator was not specified, which created opportunities for importing equipment without proper control and using schemes with so-called "gray" import.

The new norm will allow tracking the origin of mobile phones already at the stage of crossing the border and will make the electronics market more transparent. This should complicate the activities of those who use illegal schemes for importing equipment and evade paying taxes.

The initiative of the ESBU, together with the Ministry of Finance and the State Customs Service, was previously discussed with representatives of the largest legal electronics retail chains. Market participants had different positions regarding certain technical details, but they agreed on the main point—smuggling and illegal import should not have advantages over a business that operates openly and pays taxes.

"The next step should be the indication of IMEI in fiscal receipts. The ESBU, together with the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine and the State Tax Service of Ukraine, is developing a corresponding algorithm for the implementation of this mechanism," emphasized the Director of the ESBU.

According to the estimate of the ESBU, systemic solutions that combine customs, tax, and analytical control allow for more effective countering of shadow schemes and creating equal conditions for legal business.