The Ministry of Finance of Ukraine has published a draft order on the approval of new Internal Audit Standards. The document provides for a significant update of approaches to the organization of internal audit in the public sector, taking into account international practices and EU requirements.
The main goal of the document is to bring the Ukrainian internal audit system into line with the Global Internal Audit Standards and practices of the European Union.
This is due to Ukraine's obligations under the Association Agreement with the EU, the update of the Budget Code in 2025, the reform of state financial control, and the implementation of a new internal audit model.
The draft order provides for the approval of new standards that significantly expand the role of internal audit.
Internal audit is defined as an independent activity that includes audit research (assurance assessments); audit consulting and contributing to the achievement of the institution's objectives.
Clear requirements are established for the status of internal audit units, their powers and accountability, and organizational independence.
Strategic and operational planning based on risk assessment is being introduced, bringing Ukrainian practice closer to international standards.
The document defines standardized requirements for planning audit engagements, performing audits, preparing reports, and monitoring the implementation of recommendations.
It provides for internal and external assessment of audit quality, measurement of the efficiency of audit departments, and increased accountability of auditors.
If the order is adopted, the 2011 Internal Audit Standards and the Code of Ethics for Internal Auditors will be repealed. Instead, their provisions will be integrated into the new standards.
For budget managers and state bodies, this means a strengthening of the role of internal audit in management, a transition to a risk-based approach, increased requirements for documentation and reporting, greater attention to the efficiency of resource use, and increased professional requirements for auditors.
The update of standards is part of Ukraine's European integration reforms. The new approach to internal audit should make state financial control more transparent, effective, and result-oriented.
The National Agency of Ukraine on Civil Service provided clarification 12, 2026 No. 205-р/з of March regarding the increase in the age limit for civil service in connection with the entry into force of Law of Ukraine No. 4782-IX of February 11, 2026.
In accordance with Part 4 of Article 83 of the Law of Ukraine "On Civil Service", a civil servant may be retained in service after reaching the age of 65 by decision of the appointing entity and with the consent of the civil servant himself.
Such a decision is made every year, but the total period of service in the civil service cannot exceed 70 years.
Law No. 4782-IX amended the legislation, temporarily raising the age limit for public service.
For the period of martial law in Ukraine and for two years after its termination or cancellation, the maximum age limit for civil service is increased by five years.
Thus, a civil servant may remain in service after reaching the age of 65 by decision of the appointing entity each year, but no more than until the age of 75.
The application of the increased age limit is carried out solely by decision of the appointing entity. That is, continued stay in the civil service after reaching the appropriate age is not automatic.
The NAUCS also notes that the explanations of the central executive authorities are of an informational nature and do not establish new legal norms.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine is expanding the war risk insurance program. Compensation for damaged property in frontline regions is increased to UAH 30 million. For the rest of the country, the amount of insurance premium compensation is increased to UAH 3 million.
She emphasized that the Government continues to improve support tools, taking into account feedback and real business needs.
Regarding compensation for damaged or destroyed property:
- increases the maximum amount of compensation - from UAH 10 million to UAH 30 million;
- abolishes the norm according to which the amount of compensation was reduced by the amount of previously received grants or other state support;
- allows businesses that have already submitted applications to clarify them by May 1, 2026, including increasing the declared amount of possible damage or adding other property to the application if it was included in the program on the date of damage or destruction.
Regarding insurance premium compensation:
- increases the maximum amount of compensation from UAH 1 million to UAH 3 million;
- speeds up the opportunity to receive support - it will be possible to apply for compensation already on the 31st day after concluding the insurance contract;
- if the contract provides for payment of the insurance premium in installments, the compensation will also be paid in installments - in proportion to the payments made.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, by its Resolution No. 334 of March 16, 2026, expanded the criteria for determining enterprises, institutions, and organizations as critically important for meeting the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
In particular, the changes provide for the addition of a new category of enterprises to the current criteria. These are enterprises, institutions and organizations that perform contracts (agreements) for the purchase of services
- for the transportation of military cargo,
- repair, maintenance, operation of weapons, military and special equipment, ammunition and their components, as well as,
- procurement of defense goods necessary for the repair, maintenance, and operation of weapons, military and special equipment, with the commands of the types and individual branches of the Armed Forces.
The Ministry of Finance of Ukraine, by Order No. 86 of February 9, 2026, set out a new version of the Information form for business entities engaged in intermediary activities related to the provision of real estate rental services (realtors) on civil law contracts (agreements) concluded through their mediation.
As a result of the changes introduced by Law No. 4536-IX, the approach to the deadlines for submitting tax calculations has changed.
In particular, for individual entrepreneurs and persons engaged in independent professional activities, the deadlines are defined as for the tax quarter. At the same time, for other business entities (except for individual entrepreneurs and persons engaged in independent professional activities), the deadlines established by the Tax Code for the tax month apply.
The establishment of different deadlines for submitting tax calculations for different categories of payers (legal entities and individual entrepreneurs) also affected the deadlines for submitting Information by business entities, in particular real estate agents . That is why the Information form was updated to take into account these changes.
The changes were developed to bring the form of Information of business entities into line with the requirements of the Tax Code of Ukraine. In particular:
- the adopted legislative changes regarding the distribution of deadlines for submitting Information separately by categories of business entities (realtors) (for legal entities and individual entrepreneurs) have been taken into account,
- the components of the information required to fill out the Information form have been clarified,
- the general requirements for reporting by a business entity - legal entity - have been clarified, in particular in terms of providing the opportunity to sign the submitted Information form by an authorized person of such a legal entity,
- the editorial revisions have been made to simplify filling out the form.
Order No. 86 entered into force on March 13, 2026.
The Ministry of Finance of Ukraine approved General Tax Consultation No. 132, which explained the procedure for taxation of royalties paid to a non-resident through an intermediary - a resident of Ukraine.
The document considers the question of who exactly should perform the functions of a tax agent - licensee or an agent of a non-resident, if the latter does not establish a permanent establishment in Ukraine.
According to the general rule specified in item 141.4.2 of the Tax Code of Ukraine, any resident (including an individual entrepreneur or legal entity, regardless of the taxation system) who pays income to a non-resident with a source of origin in Ukraine is obliged to withhold tax at a rate of 15% (unless otherwise provided for by international treaties) and transfer it to the budget at the time of such payment.
This rule also applies to cases where funds are not transferred directly to the non-resident, but to his representative or agent. In such a situation, the payment is still considered to be made in favor of the non-resident.
If the amount of the payment exceeds the arm's length level or is equivalent to dividends, the resident must withhold tax on the amount of such excess. It must be paid no later than the deadline for submitting the report on controlled transactions.
In the case of royalties, the licensee pays funds to an agent who acts on behalf of the non-resident and only accumulates payments for subsequent transfer to the licensor. For his services, the agent receives remuneration in accordance with the terms of the contract.
Despite the involvement of an intermediary, it is the licensee who remains the tax agent. They must withhold and pay tax on the non-resident's income at the time of transferring funds to the agent.
At the same time, the licensee has the right to apply the provisions of an international agreement on the avoidance of double taxation (if any), in particular regarding the reduction of the tax rate, provided that the requirements of Article 103 of the Tax Code of Ukraine are met.
The licensee is also obliged to reflect such a transaction in tax reporting - in particular, in the appendix to the TI to line 23 of the income tax return, indicating the amount of income, withheld tax, and non-resident data.
The President of Ukraine signed Law of No. 4791-IХ of February 24, 2026 on Amendments to Article 9 of the Law on Accounting on a simplified procedure for drawing up a primary certificate for the provision of services, performance of works and lease. This Law abolishes the obligation of the customer/lessee's signature on acts of services, works, lease (with the consent of the parties in a written contract)!
The Law shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the month of its publication. Thus, the Law shall enter into force on April 1, 2026.
The document proposes to amend Article 9 of the Law of Ukraine "On Accounting and Financial Reporting in Ukraine" in order to grant business entities the right to provide for a simplified procedure for the execution of primary documents (acts of services, works, lease) when concluding a contract in writing.
It is assumed that when drawing up a service, work, or lease act, such details as position, surname, and signature on the part of the customer are not mandatory, provided that such a procedure for drawing up primary documents is provided for by the written contract.
No one is canceling the requirement to draw up a primary document when providing services, performing work, or leasing property (such a document is usually an act of services provided/work performed). The point is only that under certain conditions (which ones are discussed below), the absence of certain mandatory details in such a primary document (act) is allowed, namely:
- positions and surnames of the customer or tenant (lessee) responsible for the implementation of the business transaction and the correctness of its registration;
- personal signature or other data that allows identifying the person of the CUSTOMER or tenant (lessee) who participated in the implementation of the business transaction.
That is, in fact, we are talking about the possibility of executing acts without the signature of the customer or tenant (lessee).
This procedure for drawing up the primary document of the specified business transactions is provided for by a contract concluded in writing, and such business transactions are reflected in accounting in the period of their implementation.
The above provisions will not apply to the requirements for the execution of primary documents (acts) for transactions paid for at the expense of public funds, carried out under contracts for the lease (lease) of state or municipal property, construction contracts , design and survey works, contracts for donation, charitable and humanitarian assistance. The current requirements for the execution of primary documents remain for such transactions.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has approved a package of draft laws introducing a system of out-of-court consumer dispute resolution (OCR) – a mechanism for the rapid resolution of conflicts between consumers and businesses without resorting to court. The decision, adopted as part of the consumer protection reform, implements EU Directive 2013/11/EU and is part of Ukraine's implementation of its obligations under the Association Agreement with the EU.
The proposed system provides for an alternative dispute resolution mechanism through special OCR bodies – legal entities, business associations and consumer public associations. The consumer will be able to file a complaint with the ADR body, where independent experts will review the dispute and provide a decision or recommendation.
If the decision does not satisfy the parties, they retain the right to go to court. The statute of limitations is suspended for the duration of the procedure - a draft law on relevant amendments to the Civil Code has also been approved by the Government.
The system will be coordinated by the State Service for the Protection of Consumer Rights as a contact point, and the relevant state authorities will ensure supervision of the activities of bodies for out-of-court resolution of consumer disputes.
The new system will allow consumers to resolve disputes, particularly cross-border ones, faster and cheaper.
In turn, the business gets the opportunity to satisfy the consumer's complaint or express objections without the intervention of state control bodies and without considering the complaint in court, which will save time and money and preserve business reputation.
The new system will also enhance the role of consumer associations and business associations, reduce the burden on the judicial system, and bring consumer protection closer to best European practices.
The decision will come into force after the draft laws are adopted by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, signed by the President of Ukraine, and published.
