New Rules for Non-Cash Payments Will Take Effect for More Businesses Starting January 1

From January 1, 2026 the list of business entities obliged to ensure the possibility of accepting non-cash payments from the public will be expanded. This innovation was introduced in accordance with the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 894 dated July 29, 2022, as reminded by the State Tax Service.

This decision covers categories of traders who were previously allowed to accept payments exclusively in cash. The State Tax Service emphasizes that the implementation of non-cash settlements is aimed at increasing consumer convenience and the transparency of financial transactions in the small retail and household services sectors.

Who must ensure the acceptance of non-cash payments from 2026

  • Individual entrepreneurs (FOP) of the first group of the simplified tax system are now required to provide customers with a non-cash payment option;
  • Traders who sell products through vending machines, including coffee and food dispensers;
  • Business entities engaged in mobile or off-site trade from stalls, portable means, vehicles, as well as at fairs and exhibitions;
  • Sellers of homegrown agricultural products, including beekeepers, gardeners, and farmers who conduct settlements with the public;

Technical Implementation Methods and Current Exemptions

  • The requirement can be met not only through a physical POS terminal but also using modern mobile acquiring or software terminals on a smartphone;
  • The obligation does not apply to entrepreneurs operating in temporarily occupied territories or active combat zones;
  • Entrepreneurs in de-occupied territories are exempt from these requirements for the first three months after control over the region is restored.

The changes are aimed at ensuring consumer rights to a free choice of payment method, stimulating the development of digital finance, and creating stable and predictable conditions for the reduction of the shadow retail market in Ukraine.

We will closely monitor further developments in this area and will report on them in future Legal News.