Legal support for transactions from abroad

Legal support for transactions from abroad

In international practice, each transaction is not only a transfer of funds, but also a legal obligation with tax, banking and currency implications. This is especially relevant for residents of Ukraine who conduct transactions to or from the United Kingdom. Without competent support, misunderstandings with banks, account blocking or fines for violating currency control may arise.

Consultant lawyers help to make transactions legal, justified and documented — both from the point of view of British and Ukrainian legislation.

The main risks of international transactions for residents of Ukraine

Before making a transaction from abroad, it is important to be fully aware of all potential legal, tax and banking risks. The slightest inaccuracies or lack of proper documentation can lead to funds being blocked or fines being imposed.

1. Payments may be blocked by banks due to the dubious origin of funds or the payment purpose not matching the declared contract. In some cases, banks may require up to 5-6 supporting documents for a single transaction.
2. Violation of currency regulations in Ukraine — in particular, due to unregistered foreign economic contracts, exceeding payment terms, or conducting transactions without proper currency control. This may result in administrative liability and fines from the NBU.
3. Double taxation — when the same amount of income is subject to taxation in Ukraine (as the country of residence) and in the United Kingdom (as the country of income source). Without a proper reference to the Convention on the Avoidance of Double Taxation (UK-UA), the tax authorities may require the payment of tax twice.
4. Incorrect classification of a payment — for example, you consider a transaction to be an investment, but the bank or tax authorities consider it to be commercial income.
5. Risks related to CFCs (controlled foreign companies) — if you own a British company but have not declared it in Ukraine as a CFC, all funds received may be considered your personal income.

By analysing the type of transaction, the status of the participants, tax residency and the purpose of the payment in advance, you can avoid most legal and tax problems.

Typical cases we work with

Our team handles both simple private transfers from abroad and complex transactions from abroad at the corporate level. Below are the most common situations that clients come to us with.

• Transfer of funds to Ukraine /from Ukraine between companies.
• Return of investments or dividends from abroad.
• Sale of shares or assets by a Ukrainian party to a British resident.
• Payment under contracts for the supply of goods/services between LTD and Ukrainian sole proprietors.
• Transfer of funds under loan or financial assistance agreements.
• Servicing contracts with IT companies or consultants from Ukraine.

For each transaction, we analyse the legal framework, draft or review documents, advise on tax implications and cooperate with banks.

Legal support for transactions: what is included

Legal support is not just consultation, but a full cycle of services for the legal, transparent and secure conduct of transactions.

Support includes:

• Analysis of the legal status of the parties (residency, structure, subordination).
• Verification or preparation of contracts, invoices, acts.
• Calculation of possible taxes and commissions.
• Preparation of explanations for the bank (if necessary — in two jurisdictions).
• Control over the correct completion of payment documents.
• Preparation of reports for tax or currency authorities.

We guarantee that the transaction will not lead to financial or legal problems in the future. If necessary, we take care of communication with banks or counterparties.

Advantages of working with Consultant

Specialisation in international transactions. We have experience with over 500 transactions in the UK, EU and Ukraine.

In-depth understanding of tax and currency legislation. Our lawyers advise not only on the rules, but also on their practical application.

International support in Ukrainian, English and Polish. We communicate with clients from any country.

Preparation of a complete set of documents. Contracts, invoices, explanations, legal opinions — all in one package.

Frequently asked questions about supporting transactions from abroad