Foreign Tech Giants Pay 35 Billion Tenge in 'Google Tax' to Kazakhstan

The digital service tax initiative continues to expand in Kazakhstan, bringing prominent international platforms into the tax framework, Orda reports, citing the Ministry of Finance.

The amount of taxes for the year reached 35 billion tenge.

Since the beginning of 2022, foreign Internet companies must pay the so-called "Google tax."

When selling services and goods online, they must pay VAT to the republic's budget. Refusal to register may result in measures up to and including blocking.

The tax covers 101 registered foreign companies, including major tech players like Huawei, Aliexpress, Google, Apple, and Netflix. 

The system recently expanded, with Chinese marketplaces TEMU, Pinduoduo, and Alibaba completing conditional registration at the end of last year.

Original Author: Raushan Korzhumbekova