Kazakhstan proposes VAT exemption for QR payments, central bank says
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Kazakhstan's National Bank and government are working on a proposal to exempt QR-code payments from value-added tax, deputy governor Binur Zhalenov said on September 15, 2026. The measure aims to align QR payments with card transactions, which are already VAT-exempt. The proposal has received conceptual support and will be submitted to the Kurultai for a final decision.
Key Facts
- The proposal to exempt QR payments from VAT was discussed at a project office meeting in late August 2026 and received conceptual support.
- Deputy National Bank Governor Binur Zhalenov announced the initiative at a government press conference on September 15, 2026.
- Card transactions are already exempt from VAT under the current Tax Code, and the proposal aims to create equal conditions for QR payments.
- The National Bank and the government are now working out details before submitting the document to the Kurultai for a final decision.
- The unified QR system was launched in Kazakhstan in July 2026 and allows businesses to accept payments from customers of different banks through a single QR code.
VAT Exemption Proposal
The proposal to exempt QR payments from VAT was first raised at a project office meeting on the introduction of the Tax Code in late August 2026. Deputy National Bank Governor Binur Zhalenov said the initiative is needed to align conditions with card transactions, which are already VAT-exempt. The proposal has received conceptual support, and the National Bank is now working with the government on the details. After the details are finalized, the document will be submitted to the Kurultai, which will make the final decision.
Impact on Bank Commissions
Zhalenov said it is difficult to assess the direct impact of the VAT exemption on commissions for businesses and consumers because each bank sets its own tariffs. Bank commissions consist of several components, including the interbank interchange fee, the payment system fee, and the bank's own commission. In 2022-2023, commissions for entrepreneurs averaged 2-2.5 percent, while currently they range from 1 to 1.5 percent depending on the bank. The National Bank expects the unified QR and other payment solutions to increase competition among banks, which could lead to further reduction in business costs.
Unified QR System
The unified QR system was launched in Kazakhstan in July 2026, allowing entrepreneurs to accept payments from customers of different banks through a single QR code. Previously, businesses often needed multiple terminals to accept payments from different banks. After the launch, entrepreneurs complained about commission sizes, and the National Bank stated that business costs for accepting payments via the unified QR should not exceed the cost of a similar card transaction.