Tax Code 2026: What to Check in Your Company Now
The new Tax Code has been in force since 1 January 2026, and a package of amendments is already being prepared. Some changes open up new opportunities; others create risks that many companies are not yet aware of.
We have gathered the most important changes that directly affect business and grouped them by situation.
How to read this:
The label "In force" means the provision already applies.
The label "Proposed" means the change is under discussion and may be adopted in a different form.
If you make payments to non-residents (In force)
Since 2026, a tax treaty and a certificate of residency may no longer be enough to obtain exemption from withholding tax. Before making a payment, it is important to check the type of income and the restrictions under the new Tax Code separately.
If you repair or upgrade fixed assets (In force)
Tax accounting for subsequent expenditure does not have to follow the financial accounts: the company may choose whether to capitalise the expenditure or deduct it. The wrong approach can mean losing deductions you are entitled to.
If you export (In force)
Since 2026, simplified VAT refunds have become available to a much wider range of exporters. Where the conditions are met, VAT can be recovered faster and without an audit.
If you import equipment for lease (Proposed)
A restriction on the VAT offset method is being discussed for imported equipment that is subsequently leased out. For business, this may mean paying import VAT in cash and planning in advance for the additional pressure on working capital.
If an employee receives both salary and civil-law contract payments (Proposed)
It is proposed to combine salary and civil-law contract income from the same tax agent when applying the progressive personal income tax scale. For some employees, this may increase the overall tax burden.
If you have a board of directors or supervisory board (Proposed)
It is proposed to treat remuneration of members of boards of directors and other management bodies as a separate category of income. Companies may need to review how such payments are documented and taxed.
If founders use the self-employed regime (Proposed)
It is proposed to prohibit participants in LLPs and shareholders in joint-stock companies from applying the special tax regime for the self-employed. If this model is currently in use, it is worth assessing now in terms of the future tax burden.
Let us review your situation
The Fortune Partners tax practice helps companies adapt to the new Code: we review payments to non-residents, assess eligibility for simplified VAT refunds, analyse the tax treatment of fixed assets, and prepare companies for forthcoming amendments.
Leave a request and we will get in touch, clarify which changes affect your business, and propose a plan of action.
Or contact us directly:
Olzhas Kassenov, Director of the Tax Practice — o.kasenov@fortunepartners.kz
Yerlan Kuspanov, Senior Manager in the Tax Practice — e.kuspanov@fortunepartners.kz
Phone: +7 (707) 793-12-10
