Nongovernmental and professional associations in the agrarian sector again sent a letter to Chair of the parliamentary committee for tax and customs policy Nina Yuzhanina asking to accelerate the discussion of the resumption of the previous special regime for value added tax (VAT) refunding for farmers.

According to a report of the Ukrainian Agrarian Confederation published on Tuesday, farmers ask to accelerate the consideration of bill No. 3851-1 on amending the Tax Code of Ukraine regarding protection of VAT payers' rights, including farmers.

The associations said that amendments to the Tax Code in part of the special regime for VAT refunding that took effect from January 1, 2016 are complicated not only for administration by the State Fiscal Service of Ukraine, but also bring uncertainty in the operation of economic entities.

"First of all, they [amendments] are not in line with the interests of agricultural producers of Ukraine: they are leading to corruption, destruction of small and medium businesses, especially farmers, reduction of jobs, and they retain and strengthen inequality among taxpayers," the letter says.

The letter was signed by Co-Chairman of the All-Ukrainian Agrarian Forum and Deputy Head of ht parliamentary committee for agricultural policy and land relations MP Oleksandr Bakumenko, President of the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club Alex Lissitsa, Head of the Agrarian Union of Ukraine Hennadiy Novikov and President of the Association of Farmers and Private Landowners of Ukraine Ivan Tomich.

Alternative bill NO. 3851-1 on amending the Tax Code of Ukraine to protect the rights of VAT payers, including farmers, was registered in the parliament on February 4, 2016 and it was discussed by five parliamentary committees by February 10.