Are you used to the fact that communicating with the tax office involves queues, pointless calls, and formal replies? There is a legal tool that allows you to quickly obtain specific documents from the State Tax Service without unnecessary explanations - a request for public information from the State Tax Service.
What is a public information request and what is it based on?
Request for public information from the State Tax Service is a mechanism provided for by the Law of Ukraine "On Access to Public Information" No. 2939-VI and Order No. 405 of the Ministry of Finance.
It concerns information that is already recorded and in the possession of the State Tax Service — that is, existing documents, not "custom" analytics.
How to submit a public information request to the State Tax Service: 5 steps
The procedure for submitting a public information request is simple and takes a minimum of time:
- You can make a request in any or a set form.
- Submit it to the official email address of the relevant traffic police authority.
- Expect a response within 5 business days.
- You receive documents in the way you choose - by mail, email, etc.
Important: the requester is not required to explain the reason for the request, and the tax office does not verify the identity of the requester - the request can be submitted on your own behalf or through a representative.
What you are entitled to receive upon a public information request
- A copy of the order or decision on inclusion in the inspection plan — which State Tax Service body initiated the inspection and on what grounds.
- Results of inspections already carried out — copies of acts, inspection certificates, tax notices-decisions (TDs).
- Information about the documents sent to you — registration details, dates, shipping methods.
- Copies of tax requests, that were filed regarding your business.
- Information about the movement of documents within the State Tax Service — at what stage is your case and in which department.
Two important nuances
1. Only existing documents. The information manager is not obliged to create new analytics, generalizations, or calculations specifically for your request - only to provide what is already recorded and available in the database.
2. The «DSK» stamp is not a reason for refusal. If the requested information directly relates to your business or individual entrepreneur, the State Tax Service cannot refuse to provide it under the guise of "for official use".
When the response time is reduced to 48 hours
It is worth knowing separately: if the request for public information concerns information necessary to protect the life or freedom of a person, the state of the environment, the quality of food products, accidents, disasters, or other emergency events that threaten the safety of citizens, the response must be received within 48 hours. This is an exceptional case, not for typical tax issues.
How to correctly formulate a request so as not to get rejected
An unsuccessfully formulated request for public information is the most common reason for refusals or formal rejections. Mistakes due to which the State Tax Service legally rejects the application:
- the request is formulated as a request to «provide analysis» or «explain», rather than as a request to provide a specific document;
- there are no exact details of the document (type, date, number), if they are known;
- The request is actually a complaint or appeal, not an information request — and falls under a different law and different review deadlines.
A properly drafted public information request is the difference between having official documents in hand in a week and waiting months for a response "on the merits of the request.".
Related topic: Business fragmentation and bank requests
If your business has already received a request from a bank regarding signs of fragmentation, it is worth understanding what such suspicions are based on and how to build protection. Learn more about this here «"Business Breakdown 2026: How to Avoid Tax Audits and Fines"».
Need help with writing a request?
Leave a request on our website to schedule a consultation — we will help you formulate your public information request in such a way as to obtain exactly the documents you need, without any grounds for refusal.
Author of the article: Anna Kletsova - certified auditor, forensic tax expert (accredited by the Ministry of Justice since 2007), owner of the auditing firm "ZEVS".