Religious organizations left non-profit status

October 6, by a majority vote MPs approved bill № 5050 "On the refinement of certain provisions in the taxation of non-profit organizations." It eliminates a number of inaccuracies in the Tax Code with respect to non-profit status of religious organizations.

According to experts, in case the bill had not been adopted, a threatening situation involving the incorrect requirements of subparagraph 133.4.1 of the Tax Code of Ukraine to religious organizations could have emerged. Tax inspectors could have interpreted requirements as a prohibition of any charity and mercy in favor of members of a religious organization.

Another problem is the need for re-registration of the statutes of all registered religious organizations (about 35 thousand) until the end of 2016 as a condition of maintaining their non-profit status. The adoption of bill № 5050 eliminated all of these problems.

"This bill was supported by the entire religious community, which is represented by the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and religious organizations", commented on bill № 5050 the head of the Legal Department of the UOC, Alexander Bakhov.