98 Yachts and 264 Private Jets: How Kazakhstan’s Wealthiest Will Pay the New "Luxury Tax"

As of January 1, 2026, Kazakhstan’s new Tax Code has officially introduced the so-called "luxury tax," a reform designed to enhance fiscal equity by distinguishing between average citizens and the nation's elite. According to official data, the new regulations target high-value assets, including 264 private aircraft and 98 yachts currently registered to individuals in the country.

Under the new law, a 10% excise tax is applied to watercraft and aircraft with a valuation exceeding 103 million KZT. The scope of the tax, however, extends well beyond transport. Real estate owners whose combined property holdings exceed a total value of 450 million KZT are now subject to an elevated tax rate, with minimum annual payments starting at approximately 3 million KZT. Additionally, premium consumer goods have been integrated into the "luxury" category: cigars priced above 10,000 KZT per unit and alcoholic beverages exceeding 500,000 KZT per bottle now carry an additional tax burden.

Market data reveals that Kazakhstan has a history of ultra-premium imports, including rare Scotch whiskies priced at 6 million KZT per bottle and Cuban cigars valued at 143,000 KZT each. While the State Revenue Committee notes that it is still too early to forecast the exact impact on the national budget, the reform signals a clear shift toward progressive taxation. Notably, while excise taxes on goods are paid at the time of purchase, the first elevated payments for high-value real estate are not expected to reach the treasury until 2027.