By the Decree of the President of Kazakhstan, dated 19 May 2015, a new financial centre, called the Astana International Financial Centre ("AIFC"), was created in Kazakhstan's capital, Astana.

The Astana International Financial Centre (the AIFC) is the area on the left bank of the City of Astana, Kazakhstan, with a special legal and taxation regime.

In the beginning of 2012, the Subsoil Law was amended with the provisions of subsoil users’ obligation to finance annually scientific research, scientific technical and development works.

This Client Update covers the key amendments to the laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan ("RK") and various legal developments introduced in November and December 2016, and January 2017.

In our view, corporate tax practice in Kazakhstan has not significantly changed in the last year.

Kazakhstan's 2026 tax reform, initially intended to address budget deficits through measured revenue increases, has evolved into a comprehensive overhaul that significantly expands the tax and compliance burden on businesses. The reform introduces restrictions on expense deductions for payments to simplified-regime taxpayers, potentially raising effective corporate tax rates far beyond the statutory 20% rate, despite warnings from local experts about the risks of sudden tax increases.

Foreign contractors participating in major infrastructure projects in Kazakhstan face significant tax, customs and regulatory risks that can materially reduce or eliminate profit margins if not properly addressed. This analysis examines why tax planning must begin before tender submission rather than during contract negotiations, and identifies the principal risks including permanent establishment exposure, withholding tax, VAT...

The Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the first reading accepted the draft Law "On amendments and additions to certain legislative acts on tax and customs administration".

Can mediation resolve tax disputes in Kazakhstan? This analysis examines the legal framework, admissibility conditions, and practical applications of mediation agreements between taxpayers and tax authorities. Through nine detailed case studies from Kazakhstani courts, discover how administrative discretion enables flexible dispute resolution, from revoking audit notices to adjusting tax liabilities and establishing procedural timelines.

In 2014, Kazakhstan Parliament adopted a number of laws introducing amendments to Kazakhstan Code On Taxes and Other Obligatory Payments to the Budget (Tax Code) No. 99-IV of 10 December 2008.

Kazakhstan's Supreme Court has issued new normative guidance clarifying critical aspects of administrative jurisdiction and the definition of administrative acts in tax disputes.