Oleg Getman, associate expert CASE Ukraine, coordinator of expert groups of the Economic Expert Platform, explains in a column for “Ekonomichna Pravda” why acts of work performed are evil.
Key theses:
Ukraine has lost its position in the new Global Innovation Index. And although we retain our strengths – powerful human capital, IT sector and high level of entrepreneurial activity – the country is still struggling due to regulatory barriers that stifle business and stop development. One of such “invisible” burdens is the outdated bureaucratic requirement to draw up acts of work performed and services.
Every year, due to this norm, businesses lose about 20 billion hryvnias – this is paper, working time, and accounting costs. As a result, companies spend resources not on development, but on supporting an unnecessary administrative machine.
What experts suggest
The Economic Expert Platform advocates the abolition or significant simplification of acts of work performed. After all, their function is actually duplicated by contracts, payment orders, and electronic documents. The idea is simple: reduce the paper load without losing control. This will not only make life easier for entrepreneurs, but also make the state more business-friendly.
Real savings
According to expert estimates, enterprises can save more than UAH 20 billion per year. This is money that can be invested in new jobs, technologies, or expanding exports. Simplifying document flow also means less risk of errors, less time to sign documents, and fewer opportunities for abuse.
Why it matters for the economy
Every country that seeks to attract investment is forced to get rid of Soviet remnants in its legislation. When the state reduces administrative barriers, businesses begin to act more actively, make decisions faster, take risks, and create jobs. Ukraine has a chance to become a success story not through new taxes or benefits, but through smart deregulation that restores trust and confidence to entrepreneurs.
Potential challenges
Yes, simplification must be accompanied by clear control mechanisms. New rules must be transparent to avoid abuse and not create loopholes for tax evasion. But world experience shows that deregulation does not lead to chaos if the rules are simple and understandable.
Next steps
Changes to legislation. A simplified model of service documentation must be clearly enshrined in the Tax Code. Process electronicization. Platforms like “Diya.Business” can completely replace paper documents with electronic records. Pilot projects. Initially, in the field of IT, marketing and consulting, where most operations have long been carried out online. Information campaign. Business needs simple instructions, not additional consultations and fines.
Conclusion
Ukraine will not be able to rise in the global innovation rankings as long as entrepreneurs spend time on formalities instead of creating new products. The abolition of outdated acts is not a technical detail, but a step towards a civilized economy in which the state trusts business. We often talk about investments, startups and innovations. But real changes start with the elementary ones – less paper, more action.