Kazakhstani Bloggers Pay Half a Billion Tenge to State Budget

The State Revenue Committee (SRC) has recovered nearly 500 million tenge in taxes from approximately 850 popular bloggers across social media platforms. A desk audit revealed that these individuals had evaded taxes on their earned income, prompting authorities to take enforcement action.

This information was shared by Erkanat Shynbergen, Acting Director of a Department at the State Revenue Committee of the Ministry of Finance, during an interview on the program "Tuiin" on the 24KZ channel.

According to Shynbergen, the desk audit for the 2022–2023 period covered roughly 80,000 citizens, including nearly 850 digital content creators.

"As a result of this audit, approximately 500 million tenge in taxes was recovered from these 850 individuals," Shynbergen stated.

The official explained that if a notification regarding a desk audit is ignored, the authorities proceed to a formal tax inspection.

• Forced Collection: Authorities have the power to enter the tax debt directly into an individual's personal account for payment.
• Legal Penalties: Measures are also taken in accordance with the Code of Administrative Offenses. A first-time violation typically results in a formal warning.

When asked whether gifts and barter agreements count as taxable income, Shynbergen was definitive:

"Income is not only calculated in cash. Any property or gift received is considered income, and taxes must be paid on it accordingly."

Authorities pay close attention to advertising activities, as most bloggers earn their primary income through promotion. Any publication made on social networks with the intent to generate profit is legally classified as entrepreneurial activity.

The State Revenue Committee analyzes information received from various government agencies and banks, comparing it against submitted tax declarations. If discrepancies are found - such as underreporting income or failing to pay taxes—a notification is sent to the citizen.

•  Compliance: Declare the amounts in the tax return and pay the corresponding taxes.
• Appeal: If the taxpayer disagrees with the findings, they have 30 days to provide an explanation and evidence to challenge the audit results.