Slashdot Mirror
In Ukraine, IT Freelancing Under Threat
An anonymous reader writes "According to the new tax law (Google translation; Russian original) that is being developed now and should take effect on January 1, 2011, it will not be possible for a private Ukrainian entrepreneur to provide any services to foreign companies without becoming a full-fledged company with a dedicated bookkeeper. Currently it is possible to perform such services and pay the equivalent of $25 in tax. Instead of raising the tax (which is overall welcomed by the community), the legislators plan to outlaw ISP, e-commerce, and Internet-based services — along with any services provided to foreign entities — for individual entrepreneurs. So starting in 2011, freelancers in Ukraine will have several choices: stop doing freelance work, start working illegally, become a full-fledged company subject to multiple cumbersome rules for taxation, or leave the country."
Guess I was a poet.
Not that I'd know it.
This move by the government seems to reek of monumental levels of fail and dumbness.
Oh well. The Ukraine's loss is someone else's gain.
Chas - The one, the only.
THANK GOD!!!
Panama never looked so good.
In Soviet Russia, outlaws work for YOU!
They will work illegally. No big deal. That's what any intelligent citizen of any country does when their lawmaking weasels start cranking stupid laws like that.
Why is that law stupid?
What's to say against requiring someone to keep books so you can tax them correctly.
No really. I'm a self-employed german and I'm outsourcing book-keeping and tax-filing (it's just too complicated and I would lose more money than it costs if I didn't). That's just the cost of doing business (well, part of it)
I just got more cost-competitive compared to my ukrainian competition.
Level playing field -> fair game.
Now if India and China get on board with the idea I'll be able to get some work.
"How rich do you need to be in order to pay for your own national defence?"
Here in the US we don't pay for national defense any more - we mostly just attack at will.