Mass account freezes in Kazakhstan caused by technical error, tax authorities say

Tengrinews.kz – Kazakhstan’s State Revenue Committee has commented on массовые complaints about bank account freezes reported by citizens, saying the issue was caused by a technical error during the rollout of a new automation system.

According to the committee, the incident occurred as part of efforts to fully automate tax administration processes, particularly desk (cameral) control procedures.

“The automation covers the entire cycle of working with desk control notifications, including their generation, monitoring of execution and non-execution, as well as the application of relevant tax measures. This work is aimed at minimizing the human factor, eliminating corruption risks and preventing unjustified tax enforcement measures,” the committee said in a statement.

Officials added that an error was identified during the implementation of the new system, which led to “unjustified suspension of outgoing transactions on bank accounts” in some cases.

“The error has now been fixed. Work is underway to revoke previously issued orders to suspend debit transactions on bank accounts, some of which have already been lifted. All work will be completed by April 10, 2026,” the committee said.

The agency apologized for the inconvenience and noted that the system is currently operating normally.

What happened

Earlier, Kazakhstan citizens took to social media to report that their bank accounts—both personal and business—had been frozen. Many said they had no outstanding tax debts and were unable to reach call centers for clarification.

Previously, authorities warned that bank accounts in Kazakhstan could be blocked over “improper mobile transfers.” If a person meets certain criteria, receives a notification but fails to respond within a month, their accounts may be frozen on the 41st day.