Tax Penalties in Kazakhstan Decreased in October 2026: New Rates - FCHAIN

Tax Penalties in Kazakhstan Decreased in October 2026: New Rates

Starting October 27, 2026, new penalty rates for late payment of taxes and other mandatory budget payments have come into effect in Kazakhstan. For most taxpayers, the annual penalty rate has decreased from 20.3125% to 19.6875%. This change follows the reduction of the base interest rate of the National Bank of the Republic of Kazakhstan from 16.25% to 15.75%. The updated rates must be taken into account when calculating tax arrears, determining penalties for overdue payments, and reconciling settlements with the state budget. For businesses, it is particularly important to apply the correct rates depending on the period in which the outstanding tax liability arose and the taxpayer’s category.

 

Why Have Tax Penalty Rates Changed?

On October 23, 2026, the Monetary Policy Committee of the National Bank of the Republic of Kazakhstan announced a reduction in the base interest rate from 16.25% to 15.75%. Under the established procedure, decisions to change the base rate take effect on the first business day of the following week. As October 26 was a public holiday due to the observance of Republic Day, the new rate came into effect on Tuesday, October 27, 2026. The amount of penalties for late tax payments directly depends on the base interest rate of the National Bank. In accordance with subparagraph 2 of Article 5 of the Tax Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, penalties are calculated by applying a prescribed multiplier to the base rate effective on each specific day of delay. The applicable multiplier depends on the taxpayer’s category. Therefore, any change in the base interest rate directly affects the amount of penalties accrued on outstanding tax liabilities.

 

New Tax Penalty Rates Effective October 27, 2026

For most taxpayers and tax agents, a multiplier of 1.25 is applied to the National Bank’s base interest rate when calculating penalties. With the current base rate of 15.75%, the annual penalty rate is 19.6875%. Before October 27, 2026, when the base rate stood at 16.25%, the penalty rate for this category was 20.3125% per annum. Consequently, the reduction in the base rate has resulted in a decrease of 0.625 percentage points in the applicable penalty rate. A reduced multiplier of 0.65 applies to participants in horizontal monitoring. Following the adjustment of the base rate, the annual penalty rate for these taxpayers has decreased from 10.5625% to 10.2375%. Thus, participants in horizontal monitoring continue to benefit from a lower penalty rate compared with most other taxpayers. Penalties are accrued on taxes and other mandatory budget payments that have not been paid within the prescribed deadlines. This rule also applies to advance and current payments. Penalties are calculated for each day of delay, beginning on the day following the statutory payment deadline and continuing through the date on which the outstanding amount is actually paid to the state budget, inclusive. Unpaid penalties form part of the total tax debt, together with outstanding tax amounts and fines.

 

How Are Penalties Calculated if Tax Arrears Arose Before October 27?

When calculating tax penalties, the base interest rate of the National Bank applicable on each specific day of delay must be taken into account. If a tax liability arose before October 27, 2026, and remains unpaid after that date, penalties must be calculated separately for the relevant periods. For most taxpayers, an annual penalty rate of 20.3125% applies to days of delay up to and including October 26, 2026, while the rate of 19.6875% applies from October 27 onward. For participants in horizontal monitoring, the corresponding rates are 10.5625% and 10.2375% per annum, respectively. Therefore, the new rate does not apply retroactively to the entire period of an existing tax debt. When determining the total amount of penalties, taxpayers must distinguish between the days of delay before and after the base rate adjustment. This is particularly important for organizations with outstanding tax liabilities from previous periods, as applying a single rate to the entire overdue period may result in incorrect penalty calculations. Companies should consider these requirements when reviewing tax arrears, preparing budget payments, and recording accrued penalties in their accounting systems. Proper allocation of overdue periods ensures accurate calculations and reduces the risk of discrepancies with the records maintained by tax authorities.

 

Reduction in Penalties for Delayed VAT Refunds

The change in the base interest rate has also affected penalties accrued by tax authorities in favor of taxpayers when statutory deadlines for tax offsets or refunds are not met. The relevant rules apply to delayed offsets or refunds of taxes and other budget payments, including overpaid amounts and excess value-added tax (VAT). Starting October 27, 2026, the applicable penalty rate for such cases has also decreased following the reduction in the National Bank’s base interest rate. For organizations involved in VAT refund procedures, this change is relevant when reviewing settlements with the state budget and determining amounts to be accrued in cases where tax authorities fail to meet the established deadlines. Correct application of the current rates enables companies to calculate the relevant amounts more accurately and maintain reliable accounting and tax records.

 

How Has the National Bank’s Base Rate Changed in 2026?

Throughout 2026, the National Bank of the Republic of Kazakhstan has gradually reduced its base interest rate. In January, March, and April, the rate remained at 18%. In June, it was reduced to 17%, followed by a further decrease to 16.75% in July and 16.25% in September. The latest reduction to 15.75% took effect on October 27, 2026. As a result of these adjustments, the annual penalty rate for most taxpayers has declined from 22.5% to 19.6875%. The gradual reduction in the base rate throughout the year has therefore led to lower additional charges arising from the late fulfillment of tax obligations. The National Bank attributes the easing of monetary policy to slowing inflation. In September 2026, annual inflation stood at 9.3%, continuing a downward trend for the twelfth consecutive month. At the same time, the regulator considers the likelihood of further changes to the base interest rate before the end of 2026 to be low. For businesses, changes in the base interest rate are relevant not only when assessing financial conditions but also when calculating penalties on outstanding tax liabilities. Organizations should therefore take current rates into account and monitor subsequent decisions of the National Bank that may affect settlements with the state budget.

 

What Do the Changes in Tax Penalty Rates Mean for Businesses?

The reduction in penalty rates decreases the amount of additional charges arising from late payment of taxes and other mandatory budget payments. However, this change does not remove taxpayers’ obligation to comply with statutory payment deadlines. Even at a lower rate, prolonged delays result in an increase in the total amount of outstanding tax debt. Companies should pay particular attention to correctly identifying overdue periods and applying the appropriate penalty rates. If a tax debt covers several periods during which the National Bank’s base interest rate changed, penalties must be calculated using the rates effective on each day of delay. In addition, organizations should regularly reconcile their settlements with the state budget, monitor penalty accruals, and ensure that tax liabilities are accurately reflected in their accounting records. Regular reviews of tax payments, compliance with reporting deadlines, and timely identification of outstanding liabilities can reduce the likelihood of additional financial charges. For companies with a high volume of transactions, systematic monitoring of tax obligations and consistency between accounting and tax records are particularly important.

 

Professional Accounting Services from FChain Kazakhstan

Changes in tax penalty rates require businesses to pay close attention to the calculation of tax liabilities, monitoring of payment deadlines, and accurate recording of outstanding amounts in their accounting systems. FChain Kazakhstan provides professional accounting, tax, and legal services aimed at ensuring compliance with the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan, improving the accuracy of financial calculations, and reducing risks associated with tax obligations.

Depending on business needs, FChain offers the following services:

• Accounting and Tax Services — maintenance of accounting and tax records, preparation of statutory reports, monitoring of mandatory payments, and accurate recording of outstanding tax liabilities.
• Accounting Recovery — identification and correction of errors from previous reporting periods, restoration of accounting records, and verification of the accurate recognition of tax liabilities.
• Payroll Services — calculation of salaries, related taxes, and mandatory payments in accordance with applicable legal requirements and statutory deadlines.

FChain Kazakhstan provides comprehensive accounting and legal support for businesses, with particular attention to the accuracy of tax calculations, timely fulfillment of obligations, and prevention of financial risks. Professional support enables companies to maintain reliable accounting records, monitor settlements with the state budget, and comply with applicable tax legislation. The reduction in tax penalty rates from October 27, 2026, decreases the financial burden associated with overdue tax payments but does not eliminate the consequences of failing to meet statutory obligations on time. For businesses, the correct application of penalty rates for the relevant periods, effective monitoring of tax arrears, and timely payment of mandatory contributions remain essential. A systematic approach to accounting and tax compliance reduces the likelihood of errors, ensures transparency in settlements with the state budget, and minimizes the risk of additional financial charges.

 

Form 200.00 for 2026: New Rules for Completion and Submission

Prepared by: Anel Kosmaganbetova

Assistant to the Director

FChain Kazakhstan

 📩almaty@f-chain.com
WhatsApp: +7 771 214 1820