Catastrophic Fire Rages in Astana, Judgment Pronounced on Diplomat
In a significant move, Kazakhstan has announced a major overhaul of its Tax Code, effective from January 1, 2026. The most notable change is the increase of the standard Value Added Tax (VAT) rate from 12% to 16%, marking the first VAT rate hike in over a decade and aligning Kazakhstan more closely with global VAT standards.
The reform also introduces reduced VAT rates aimed at critical sectors and to mitigate the impact on lower-income groups. A 5% VAT rate in 2026, increasing to 10% in 2027, will apply to pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, and healthcare services. From 2027, a 10% VAT rate will apply to other selected goods and services.
Other changes include the abolition of the single land tax, optimization of special tax regimes, and enhanced administrative measures such as tax payment via mobile apps for self-employed individuals. The corporate tax remains steady at 16%, but differentiated rates have been introduced for higher income brackets and dividends, and new excise duties have been applied to high-value goods.
Earlier amendments include updates to personal income tax filing requirements and declarations, extension of VAT offset methods for imports through 2025, and new lower tax rates for individuals engaged in private practice.
Elsewhere, a surgeon in Kostanay was attacked by a patient, resulting in a closed craniocerebral injury, severe brain contusion, and other injuries. The attacker has been detained, with a decision on detention pending.
Investigations are also ongoing into fraud involving the Fire AFM company and Perizat Kairat, and the case completion for Hasan Kasymbayev and other defendants was confirmed on March 28, 2025.
Controversy has arisen in Almaty over a new establishment named Lenina 36, which references the old name of the street Dostyk, sparking debate about whether the name romanticizes the Soviet era and ignores the renaming of streets and the city's modern identity.
Meanwhile, the suspect in the Jetisu murder case has been in custody since the early days of the investigation, and a brutal murder investigation is ongoing in the Jetisu region involving a 32-year-old woman.
Finally, Bayan Alaguzova, a prominent figure, criticized the condition of roadside toilets along the Pavlograd - Astana highway. The government has yet to issue a formal response to her comments.
- The reform in Kazakhstan's Tax Code, effective from 2026, includes a reduction in VAT rate for health-and-wellness sectors, such as pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, and healthcare services.
- Amidst the general-news about a surgeon being attacked in Kostanay, investigations are ongoing into fraud cases involving Fire AFM company and Perizat Kairat.
- Bayan Alaguzova, a key figure, expressed her concern about the condition of roadside toilets on the Pavlograd - Astyan highway, raising questions about the state of infrastructure in politics-related discussions.
