The Council for Supporting Entrepreneurship under Martial Law at the President of Ukraine (the Council of Seven) will discuss the issues related to bill No. 11416 on tax increases at a special meeting on July 31, which the government plans to use to raise the budget by UAH 125 billion this year and UAH 341.9 billion next year, as announced by Head of the President's Office Andriy Yermak.

"There will be an honest and direct dialogue between business and government representatives. Our Council has already demonstrated its effectiveness, such a level of communication between the government and business is unprecedented," he wrote in Telegram on Wednesday.

Yermak thanked Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Economy Yulia Svyrydenko, Minister of Finance Serhiy Marchenko, Chairman of the relevant parliamentary committee Danylo Hetmantsev for their quick response to the council's proposal to discuss the bill.

"I hope that tomorrow we will have an open and constructive dialogue on this platform," the head of the President's Office said.

As reported, over the weekend, two members of the Council of Seven – monobank co-founder Oleh Gorokhovsky and Ajax Systems founder Oleksandr Konotopsky – sharply criticized the government's proposal to increase taxes.

Leading business associations and analytical centers also disapproved the bill.

Earlier Head of the Verkhovna Rada Budget Committee Roksolana Pidlasa predicted in the Economic Chronicles podcast that Bill No. 11416 "On Amendments to the Tax Code of Ukraine and Other Laws of Ukraine on Taxation Features during Martial Law," submitted by the government on July 17, should be passed and take effect by mid-September this year. In particular, the first reading of the bill is expected after August 20. She believes the bill will be amended during parliamentary hearings, and proposals to increase value-added tax may be considered."You are raising the price for doing business in a warring jurisdiction. Are you sure there is no mistake here?)", the businessman also noted, adding that there were no consultations with businesses on the bill.

Leading business associations and think tanks also criticized the bill. As reported, the head of the Verkhovna Rada Budget Committee Roksolana Pidlasa recently predicted in the podcast "Chronicles of Economy" that the bill No. 11416 "On Amendments to the Tax Code of Ukraine and Other Laws of Ukraine Regarding the Peculiarities of Taxation During the Period of Martial Law" submitted by the government on July 17 should be adopted and come into force by mid-September of this year. In particular, the deputy expects its first reading after August 20. In her opinion, during the hearings of the document in parliament, it will be amended, in particular, a proposal to increase the value added tax may be considered.