Aq Jol Deputies Dissatisfied with Response about Marketplaces

Deputies have accused Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin of “juggling numbers” in his response regarding the taxation of foreign marketplaces, Orda.kz reports.

The Aq Jol party submitted two parliamentary inquiries, calling the current tax approach unfair.

Zhumangarin stated that over 100 companies — including Apple, Amazon, Alibaba, Aliexpress, and Netflix —operate in Kazakhstan and all pay VAT.

Under the new Tax Code, unregistered marketplaces could be blocked.

Regarding the payment of taxes, foreign marketplaces calculate VAT at a rate of 12% when selling goods or providing electronic services. In total, more than 83.0 billion tenge was received by the budget, the response said.

However, Aq Jol was dissatisfied and issued a second request.

You have sent a response that contradicts the real situation and the objective control data provided by the National Bank of the Republic of Kazakhstan. In particular, the statistics of external payments. With all due respect, we cannot agree with such a response, which, instead of analyzing real data, so to speak, 'juggles' numbers, says the request, shared by faction leader Azat Peruashev on Telegram.

The deputies specified what they see as number manipulation, particularly regarding taxes paid by foreign marketplaces on income from Kazakhstani consumers.

The government claims that they paid taxes in the amount of more than 83 billion tenge. However, they paid this amount over more than three years – 2022–2024. If we take annual indicators, then, for example, in 2023, foreign marketplaces paid taxes of 24.3 billion tenge.

In 2023, Kazakhstanis spent around 505 billion tenge on foreign marketplaces, yet only 24.3 billion tenge was collected — just 4.8%, while the VAT rate is 12%.

How can one claim with such data that foreign trading platforms pay VAT? In 2023 alone, the VAT shortfall of foreign marketplaces amounted to 36 billion tenge, or 2.5 times less than required,Aq Jol representatives argued.

They warned that this approach could lead to continued losses.

It raises questions as to why government agencies that are prepared to increase taxes on domestic entrepreneurs turn a blind eye to tax evasion by foreign suppliers.

Aq Jol insists foreign marketplaces should be obligated to cooperate with local platforms and producers. The Ministry of Economy responded that Kazakhstan lacks such authority, as its legislation does not apply to foreign marketplaces.

Original Author: Igor Ulitin