Gadgets from the "back door": how smartphones and technology bypass customs
Kyiv • UNN
The expert emphasizes the significant volumes of "gray" imports of electronics, in particular smartphones and household appliances. Effective customs operation is the key to minimizing the illegal market.
The most "gray", even "black" part of imports in the electronics market in Ukraine remains the categories of goods related to small household appliances, smartphones, laptops and other electronics. This was stated by economic analyst, senior economist at CASE-Ukraine, expert of the Economic Expert Platform Volodymyr Dubrovskyi in an exclusive comment for UNN.
The categories of goods most susceptible to "gray" imports are small household appliances, smartphones, laptops, etc. This is, rather, not even "gray", but "black" import
According to the expert, countering the illegal market is possible primarily through the effective work of customs, when illegal supply schemes will be minimized.
"Of course, they never disappear completely – even in highly developed countries – but they can be minimized. For this purpose, the customs service is currently being reformed with a complete reboot and re-certification. In addition, a strong transparency system is needed at customs posts, but all relevant steps should be implemented simultaneously," the expert emphasized.
As Dubrovskyi explained, there is a misconception that the problem can be solved through control over retail trade. But this is impossible, because there are hundreds of thousands of retail outlets, they are scattered, and it is much more difficult to control them than a few dozen border crossing points. In addition, it is at the border crossing point that transparency of the process can be ensured.
"If we are talking about checking an entrepreneur who sells something, then an inspector comes to him and, of course, they can agree there. This is an ineffective way, not to mention that most of this product is sold on the "black" market or with fake documents. And this is even more difficult to fight, because the "black" market is unregistered sellers, to whom it is unknown where to come and who to check. Therefore, in my opinion, the easiest and most effective way is customs," the economist argued.
Summarizing, the expert noted that buyers, as a rule, are aware of what exactly they are buying. Usually such goods come without a guarantee or with a limited guarantee from the store, so they cost less than officially imported ones. Therefore, each buyer chooses what is more important for him – the availability of warranty service or a lower price. Therefore, influencing the problem through buyers is an ineffective way.
Let us remind you
The State Tax Service of Ukraine revealed schemes of evading VAT payment for more than UAH 286 million in the "Yabko" and Yabluka networks. The head of the department, Ruslan Kravchenko, reported that during inspections, tax officials discovered massive facts of trade without the use of RRO/PRRO and the absence of documents on the origin of the equipment. At the same time, the State Tax Service also handed over to law enforcement officers the facts of artificial division of sales by the above-mentioned networks: legal entities involved up to 300 related sole proprietors on a simplified system. Tax officials identified 170 entrepreneurs involved in these manipulations. Their total income is UAH 1.72 billion.
