Photo: Aibek Skakov / Pexels
Kazakhstan’s proposed higher tax rate for owners of large fortunes remains under discussion. Separate measures have already been adopted: a 10% excise on certain expensive goods has applied since January 1, 2026, while higher property tax for the 2026 tax year will first be calculated in 2027.
What Tokayev proposed for large fortunes
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev proposed discussing a higher tax rate for owners of large fortunes during his address to the nation. The government and the kurultai are to study the issue, according to Kapital.kz and Informburo.kz.
This is a proposal for consideration, rather than an adopted higher rate. Tokayev linked the initiative to fairness in taxation and a proportionate contribution from citizens.
What he said about lawfully acquired assets
The president separately stated that there were no plans to restrict lawfully acquired assets, saying such restrictions would contradict the Constitution. His proposal concerns taxation of large fortunes.
Which expensive goods face a 10% excise
The new Tax Code took effect on January 1, 2026. It introduced a 10% excise on specified expensive goods, as outlined by the Ministry of National Economy.
The Ministry of Finance’s detailed guidance specifies the following thresholds. Vehicle thresholds are expressed in monthly calculation indices (MCI), rather than fixed tenge amounts.
| Category | Threshold |
|---|---|
| Passenger cars | Purchase value of 18,000 MCI or more |
| Vessels and aircraft | Purchase value of 24,000 MCI or more |
| Imported alcohol, excluding imports for personal consumption | Customs value exceeding 500,000 tenge per liter |
| Imported cigars, excluding imports for personal consumption | Customs value exceeding 10,000 tenge per piece |
For vehicles, the applicable MCI is the amount in force on January 1 of the relevant financial year. The excise rate is 10%.
When higher property tax will be calculated
The property measure applies when the combined value of all real estate properties registered to one individual exceeds 450 million tenge. The State Revenue Committee’s explanation specifies that the threshold is assessed by adding together the values of those properties for taxation purposes, rather than their market values.
The rule covers the 2026 tax year, with the first calculation in 2027. State Revenue Committee official Gulmira Smagulova explained that timing to Informburo.kz: property tax is paid after the tax year ends.
The distinction is therefore between an initiative still to be studied, an excise already in force, and an adopted property-tax rule whose first calculation follows in 2027.
