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Tengrinews.kz – A value-added tax (VAT) on medicines will be introduced in Kazakhstan. This regulation is part of the new Tax Code, which was adopted today by the Mazhilis in the second reading.
Currently, the sale of medicines and medical services in Kazakhstan is exempt from VAT. The developers of the new document propose the following changes:
- Starting in 2026, a reduced VAT rate of 5% will apply to medicines, medical devices, and medical services, increasing to 10% in 2027;
- Medicines and medical services provided as part of free medical care and mandatory health insurance will remain fully exempt from VAT;
- Treatment of rare (orphan) and socially significant diseases will also remain VAT-exempt, according to a list approved by the government.
Thus, the introduction of a 5% VAT may lead to a 5–10% increase in prices for medicines and medical services starting in 2026.
As a reminder, the Mazhilis today passed the new Tax Code in its second reading. The document will now be sent to the Senate for review. Key changes include:
- An increase in the general VAT rate from 12% to 16%,
- A raise in the VAT registration threshold from 15 million to 40 million tenge.
Socially significant food products and domestically published books, as well as services related to publishing printed books, will be exempted from VAT. To support agricultural producers, the amount of VAT additionally credited has been increased from 70% to 80%, which means their tax burden will be lower than under the current system.
