This chapter considers tax revenue trends and the tax mix in Kazakhstan. Taxes as a share of GDP in Kazakhstan remain low by international standards. The tax mix is concentrated on value-added tax (VAT) and corporate income tax (CIT) and much less so on Personal Income Tax (PIT), Social Security Contributions (SSCs) and property taxes. At the same time, important sources of tax revenue such as CIT and export duty taxes rely on the extractive sectors of the economy such as mining and the fossil fuel sector. Kazakhstan aspires to become one of the top 30 global economies by 2050. However, tax revenues may be too low to support the ambitions of the authorities including to meet tax revenue and expenditure targets and to reduce the non-oil deficit. Raising more taxes will be necessary to support the country’s medium-term goals and longer-term sustainability.
OECD Tax Policy Reviews: Kazakhstan 2020
3. Tax Revenue Analysis
Abstract
3.1. Tax revenues have increased over the past decade but the tax-to-GDP ratio remains low
Historically, tax revenues have been lower and more volatile in Kazakhstan than in comparison to the average for OECD countries. Kazakhstan has undergone considerable economic change over the past two decades. Figure 3.1 shows that the tax-to-GDP ratio in Kazakhstan has been low, volatile and more sensitive to economic cycles. The broad trend over the period has been that the tax-to-GDP ratio rose gradually between 1998 and 2008 and declined gradually thereafter to 2017. GDP declined in 2009 following the global financial crisis and then again 2014 in part due to falling oil prices. The decline in the tax-to-GDP ratio from a high of 27.6% in 2008 to 16.4% in 2017 has also occurred in part because economic growth rose more quickly than tax revenues.
Figure 3.1. Kazakhstan raises taxes at a level close to the lowest level found in the OECD
Total tax revenue as a % of GDP in Kazakhstan and the OECD, 1998 - 2017
Note: The shaded area shows the tax revenue as a percentage of GDP range among OECD countries (i.e. the maximum and minimum) in a given year.
Source: OECD global revenue statistics.
The tax-to-GDP ratio in Kazakhstan is similar to the average of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)1. Following the decline in the tax-to-GDP ratio since 2008, Kazakhstan has a tax-to-GDP ratio of 16.4% in 2017, which is similar to the average of CIS countries (Figure 3.2). For example, it is higher than Azerbaijan (13%), lower than the Republic of Armenia (23%) and similar to Russia (17%). It is also broadly similar to selected Asian and Pacific economies, such as Indonesia (12%), Thailand (18%), the Philippines (18%) and Malaysia (14%) and Singapore (14%). However, the tax-to-GDP ratio in Kazakhstan is low compared to the OECD average (34.2%) and resource-rich OECD countries such as Norway (39%), Canada (33%) and Australia (29%).
Figure 3.2. The tax-to-GDP ratio in Kazakhstan is similar to the CIS average but below the OECD average
Tax-to-GDP ratio, 2005 and 2017 for Kazakhstan (2017 for all other countries)
Note: For Australia, Japan and Africa, data for 2016 is shown as data for 2017 is unavailable. Data for CIS countries is for 2015. For CIS countries, ratio is presented without consideration of social payments and local taxes as they are not covered by the competence of tax authorities. CIS average based on selected countries in the figure.
Source: OECD revenue statistics and State Revenue Committee.
3.2. The tax mix is concentrated
The tax mix is concentrated on VAT and CIT with a lower share from PIT and SSCs.2 Taxes on company profits as a share of GDP are high at 5.1% compared to only 3.0% in the OECD. Oil companies contributed to about one-third (35%) of all CIT revenue in 2017. Taxes on goods and services as a share of GDP are 8.5%, which is lower than the OECD average of 10.9%. However, as a share of total tax revenues, taxes on goods and services are relatively high, in comparison to the OECD average. Taxes on the income of individuals are low at 1.4%, compared to 8.3% in the OECD. Similarly, SSC funds are low and represent 0.4% of GDP compared to 9.1% in the OECD.
Figure 3.3. The tax mix is concentrated on taxes on goods and services and corporate income taxes
Tax revenues compared to the OECD average, as a % of GDP and as a % of total tax revenue, 2018
Note: OECD figures for 2017.
Source: OECD global revenue statistics database.
Kazakhstan’s tax mix is less diversified than in resource-rich OECD countries. As mentioned previously, Kazakhstan aspires to become one of the top 30 global economies by 2050. Figure 3.4 shows developments in taxes for Kazakhstan and a selection of resource-rich OECD countries and emerging economies between 2000 and 2017. A diversified tax mix reduces the potential impact of a decline in any one tax. In Kazakhstan, 81% % of tax revenues come from two taxes – taxes on goods and services and taxes on companies – based on OECD revenue statistics data. In Norway, Canada and Mexico, the tax revenues from the same two taxes are lower at 43%, 35% and 58% respectively. The reduced degree of tax concentration among these countries provides them with greater protection from potential shocks.
The lack of diversification in the tax mix have led to larger declines in tax revenues than in resource-rich OECD countries and emerging economies. While PIT and SSCs have both been relatively stable in Kazakhstan and Norway in recent years, an important difference arises in the size of the contribution of these taxes to total tax revenues. Combined, PIT and SSCs represent over 20% of GDP in Norway in 2017 but less than 2% in Kazakhstan. When the international oil price declined between 2014 and 2016, this combination of a proportionately high (relative to total taxes) and stable tax base provided Norway with additional protection for tax revenues. As a result, during the period 2012 to 2017, total tax revenues fell by a third (from 23.9% of GDP to 16.4%) in Kazakhstan compared to just 3% in Norway (from 41.5% to 38.8%).
3.3. Tax revenues depend on potentially volatile extractive sectors
CIT and export duty tax (on oil) revenues depend on the oil sector. Figure 3.5 shows the contribution of oil production to different taxes based on data provided by the authorities. Overall, 42% of total tax revenues are related to the oil sector in 20183. This has fallen from a recent peak of 54% in 2011. In the case of PIT revenues, 9% is related to the oil sector and the figure has remained relatively stable over time. For revenues from the CIT, 45% is related to the oil sector and the trend has followed overall tax revenues trends over the period. In the case of VAT revenues, the proportion is 11% having increased from negative values (one possible explanation is because of large VAT refunds for VAT paid on inputs). For export tax revenues, virtually all revenues are derived from the oil sector (97.9%). Export custom duties relate to taxes on crude oil and oil products (these taxes are levied on the basis of the quantity exported). Taken together, CIT and export taxes represent over 90% of all taxes from the oil sector.
3.3.1. Tax revenues are more volatile than in resource-rich OECD countries and emerging economies
Oil and non-oil tax revenues are sensitive to changes in the oil price. The international crude oil price has a strong positive correlation with overall tax revenues in Kazakhstan over time, particularly with tax revenues from the oil sector (Figure 3.6). For example, between 2014 and 2016, the oil price fell by 48% and 11% and oil tax revenues fell similarly by 48% and 23% respectively. When the oil price recovered in 2017, so did oil tax revenues, albeit more quickly. The impact of the oil price on the economy and total tax revenues operates through various channels including through increased company profits which are subject to tax (for more details on company taxation see Chapter 5). The data also show that the oil price has a positive correlation with taxes from the non-oil sector, which reflects the integrated nature of oil in the Kazakhstan economy.
Figure 3.4. Kazakhstan’s tax base is less diversified than in a selection of other resource-rich countries
Taxes as a % of GDP in Kazakhstan and selected OECD countries and emerging economies, 2000 - 2017
Source: OECD global revenue statistics database.
Figure 3.5. Oil contributes significantly to tax revenues through CIT and export custom duties levied on oil
% of taxes related to oil production, 2009 - 2018
Source: State Revenue Committee of Kazakhstan.
Figure 3.6. Oil and non-oil tax revenues are sensitive to changes in the world-market oil price
Oil and non-oil taxes and the average crude oil price, 2000 - 2017
Note: Oil taxes are estimated using OECD revenue statistics as the share of tax revenues that go to the National Fund plus ‘taxes on exports excluding those to the National Fund’ (because these include export duty taxes on crude oil). It is worth noting that the definition of what constitutes tax and non-tax revenues differ in Kazakhstan and the OECD revenue statistics.
Source: OECD revenue statistics; Macro Trends data.
The volatility of CIT revenues is high. Among the selected resource-rich countries, Kazakhstan and Norway have had similarly high degrees of CIT revenue volatility, measured based on the standard deviation in revenues over the 2000 to 2017 period (Table 3.1). The standard deviation was 2.7 and 2.5 in each country respectively over the 18-year period. The trend can also be observed in the tax-to-GDP ratios: between 2012 and 2017, for example, CIT revenues fell from 7.7% to 4.5% in Kazakhstan and from 10.3% to 4.6% in Norway, which is a broadly similar relative decline. By comparison, Chile has had a more moderate CIT revenue volatility and Brazil and Canada have had low CIT revenue volatility.
Taxes on goods and services are more volatile than in other resource-rich countries. Between 2014 and 2015 when the international oil price fell, taxes on goods and services fell sharply in Kazakhstan by 33%; while in Norway they rose modestly by 3.0%. More generally, goods and services appears to be more volatile in Kazakhstan than in other resource-rich countries, based on the standard deviation over the 18-year period from 2000 to 2017 (Table 3.1).
Table 3.1. Revenues from company taxes and taxes on goods and services are more volatile in Kazakhstan than in other resource rich countries
Standard deviation of CIT and taxes on goods and services revenues over time, selected countries, 2000 - 2017
Note: Standard deviation is calculated based on the levels of company taxes and taxes on goods and services as a share of GDP in each year. A caveat to this volatility analysis is that some countries may levy taxes other taxes on the oil sector, such as royalties, and therefore company taxes to GDP may be less important in those countries.
Source: OECD global revenue statistics database.
VAT represents a relatively stable form of tax that is linked to the overall level of domestic consumption in many OECD countries, but this does not seem to be the case in Kazakhstan. To take one example, in Norway VAT and consumption have been closely correlated over the past decade Figure 3.7. In Kazakhstan, however, VAT is correlated with the general level of consumption but less so than in other resource-rich countries such as in Norway. One explanation for this could be the rise in the importance of imports in the VAT base that has occurred in recent decades. For example, VAT on imports as share of total VAT increased from 26% in 1998 to 78% in 2008 to 61% in 2017.
Figure 3.7. VAT revenues in Kazakhstan are less correlated with general consumption than in some other countries
Trends in VAT, consumption and exports in Kazakhstan and Norway (index 2007 = 1.0), 2007 - 2017
Source: Statistics Norway; OECD Statistics
3.3.2. Increasing tax revenues to support the country’s medium-term goals and ensure longer-term sustainability and welfare
Higher tax revenues are needed to meet Kazakhstan’s expenditure goals and to reduce the non-oil deficit. (see Infographic 2.1). Raising more tax revenues would allow the country to meet its revenue targets and expenditure goals and to reduce the non-oil deficit. The authorities have set an ambitious goal to increase tax collection from 18 to 25 percent of GDP by 2025 (IMF, 2020[1]). The authorities also have a wide range of ambitious expenditure goals including supporting low-income households, promoting SMEs and enhancing the quality of healthcare. In addition, Kazakhstan presently runs a budget deficit and a non-oil budget deficit (NOD). In general terms, the idea of NOD is to strip out oil revenues from the budget to provide a more realistic measure of the budget deficit in the absence of oil revenues. The authorities define the NOD as the difference between budget revenues (with the exception of loan receipts, transfers from the National Fund and export customs on crude oil) and expenditures (with the exception of repayment of loans). Reducing the NOD has been identified by government as a reform priority.
A further reason to raise tax revenues is that government debt has been rising in recent years albeit from a low base. Furthermore, over the long-term, the low-carbon transition and technological advancements in fossil fuel extraction are likely to generate downward pressure on fossil fuel demand, prices and the associated tax revenues (Botta, 2020[2]). To prepare for decarbonisation of the world economy over the longer-term, Kazakhstan has recognised that it should gradually raise more tax revenues from non-resource related sources to finance its budget. The resource revenues should provide additional time for a gradual transition towards raising higher non-oil related tax revenues in ways that do not harm growth, respect fairness and is aligned with the capacity of the tax administration to operate a modern and well-designed tax system. A broader set of macroeconomic risks exist including the potential for increases in international interest rates, oil price shocks and trade wars.
Infographic 3.1. Advantages of raising more tax revenues in Kazakhstan
Source: OECD analysis.
Kazakhstan needs to strike a balance between consuming resource-revenue today versus investing and consuming the revenues in the future. Resource-rich countries such as Kazakhstan face the opportunities and challenges of managing oil, gas, and mineral revenues that are volatile, finite and uncertain (Botta, 2020[2]). As the world gradually decarbonises over the long-term, Kazakhstan can decide how much resource-revenue to consume and invest now through the budget and how much to save for the future through the National Fund. The analysis in Infographic 2.2 provides an indicative snapshot in 2017 of the flows of oil and non-oil tax and non-tax revenues in the Kazakhstan fiscal system. Some caveats are worth noting. The GDP shares shown in Infographic 2.2 are derived based on different sources (including OECD revenue statistics for the budget and most tax revenues) so they cannot necessarily be combined. Similarly, the GDP shares are for the year 2017 (unless otherwise stated) and are not necessarily representative of other years, partly because of the volatility of the economic activity and profitability of the oil sector (for example, investment income under management of the National Fund and transfers to budget can change significant in a given year).
Resource revenues currently fuel the National Fund and the budget. Notwithstanding the illustrative nature of the analysis in Infographic 2.2, it highlights a number of points. The tax and non-tax revenues generated by the oil sector in 2017 are significant (5.5% of GDP). Most tax and non-tax oil revenues flow to the National Fund (3.7% of GDP) but some go directly to the budget (1.7% of GDP). Non-oil tax revenues go directly to the budget (11.4% of GDP) along with non-oil non-tax revenues (1.1% of GDP). Kazakhstan’s oil wealth is managed through its National Fund. The assets of the National Fund are significant at 33% of GDP in 2017. The assets are accumulated in a number of ways. They include taxes from oil sector organisations including CIT, alternative subsoil use tax, mineral extraction tax, bonuses, export rental tax, excess profit tax. They also includes other revenues from operations carried by organisations of the oil sector, including for example violations of the terms of oil contracts in addition to other proceeds (EITI, 2018[3]). Assets also includes investment income from the management of the fund (2.7% of GDP). The National Fund annually allocates transfers to the budget (8.3% of GDP in 2017) but these do not necessarily correspond to the revenues flowing into the National Fund. Some of these transfers can be made in accordance with the decision of the President (referred to as targeted transfers). Budget revenues are estimated at 22.5% of GDP, comprised of oil tax revenues including export custom duty (1.7%), non-oil tax revenues (11.4%), non-oil non-tax revenues (1.1%) and transfers from the National Fund (8.3%) (for the year 2017, when transfers were high relative to previous years).
Infographic 3.2. The flow of oil and non-oil revenues to the National Fund and the Budget of Kazakhstan
Note: Unless otherwise stated, data refer to year 2017. In the case of the oil and non-oil sectors, figures refer to the GVA of the oil and gas sector (and non-oil and gas sector) as a share of GDP in 2018. Tax figures are from OECD revenue statistics and OECD global revenue statistics database for 2017. OECD revenue statistics data include SSCs, whereas Kazakhstan does not classify SSCs as tax revenues. Oil non-tax revenue is estimated based on data from (EITI, 2018[3]). Investment income from management of the national fund and transfers to budget are also based on data for 2017 from (EITI, 2018[3]). While investment income from management of the National Fund was positive in 2017, this is not the case in all years. Transfers to the budget were high in 2017. National fund estimate as a share of GDP is based on data from the Ministry of National Economy. Non-oil non-tax revenues is from the OECD multi-dimensional review of Kazakhstan 2016.
Source: OECD revenue statistics; OECD global revenue statistics database (OECD, 2020[4]); (EITI, 2018[3]); Ministry of National Economy; National Statistics Committee of Kazakhstan; OECD multi-dimensional review of Kazakhstan 2016.
Tax revenues flow to the budget and the National Fund. Tax revenues from the oil sector in Kazakhstan go to the National Fund with the exception of export customs duty on crude oil. Therefore, oil tax revenues equal total tax revenues that go to the National Fund plus export customs duty on crude oil that go to the budget. The corollary is that non-oil tax revenues are total tax revenues less oil tax revenues. Table 3.2 shows the components of oil and non-oil tax revenues in Kazakhstan between 2010 and 2017 using OECD revenue statistics data. Export customs duty on crude oil can be approximated using OECD revenue statistics with taxes on exports excluding those that go to the National Fund.4
Table 3.2. Non-oil tax revenues
Components of oil and non-oil tax revenues in Kazakhstan, in millions of KZT, 2010 - 2017
Note: Total tax revenues in OECD revenue statistics include the republican budget, local budget and the National Fund. Tax revenues to the National Fund include significant proportions but not all of profits on corporates (1210), taxes on exports (5124) and other taxes (5128).
Source: OECD revenue statistics.
An OECD definition of the NOD can be developed. A number of methodological steps are taken to estimate a new definition of the NOD to 2025 for the purposes of this report. ) First, using OECD revenue statistics data, non-oil tax revenues are calculated as the amount of tax revenues that do not flow to the National Fund but directly to the general government budget (see Table 3.2). Second, non-oil non-tax revenue is added to non-oil tax revenue to give total non-oil revenues. It is worth noting that the definition of what constitutes tax and non-tax revenues differ in Kazakhstan and the OECD revenue statistics5. Third, ‘taxes on exports excluding those to the National Fund’ are also deducted from the non-oil tax revenue estimate as these relate to export tax duties on crude oil from the oil sector. Finally, state budget expenses based on State Revenue Committee data are deducted to give an estimate of the non-oil deficit. Based on these steps, the definition of the NOD can be expressed as follows:
NOD = tax revenues to budget + non-tax revenues to budget – taxes on export duties – expenditures 6
The NOD is presented in Table 3.3 for years up to 2017, using actual data and forecasts the NOD for the period 2018-2025. After 2017 (the latest year for which there is OECD revenue statistics data), non-oil tax revenues, GDP and expenditures are grown-forward annually based on international data and forecasts (IMF, 2020[1]).
Table 3.3. Estimating the non-oil deficit
Non-oil deficit estimates, 2014 – 2025, as a % of GDP
Note: (1) The proportion of tax revenues from the non-oil economy (A) is estimated using OECD revenue statistics data as follows: (total tax revenues not from the national fund) / (total tax revenues) (2) Non-oil non-tax revenue (B) was 1.1% of GDP between 2012 and 2014 based on the OECD multi-dimensional review of Kazakhstan 2016. It is assumed to remain at this level over the period of the analysis. (3) State budget expenses are from publicly available data on revenues to the State Budget from the State Revenue Committee. In terms of the forecasts, non-oil revenues and export customs duties for 2017 are grown-forward annually using IMF forecasts for non-oil revenues. State budget expenses are grown-forward annually using IMF forecasts for current expenditures. GDP for 2010 – 2017 is based on revenue statistics data and grown-forward thereafter annually using IMF forecasts for real GDP growth.
Source: OECD revenue statistics; the OECD multi-dimensional review of Kazakhstan 2016; publicly available data from the State Revenue Committee of Kazakhstan; (IMF, 2020[1]).
The NOD could range from 4 – 7% by 2025. According to the baseline analysis, the NOD is 5.4% of GDP in 2018, 6.2% of GDP in 2020 and could be 3.5% by 2025.7 However, the forecast growth in expenditures (based on IMF data) are low between 2018 and 2025, averaging 0.2% over the period, and resulting in a gradual decrease over time of expenditure as a % of GDP. For that reason, Figure 1.1 extends the analysis from Table 3.3 and adds a simulation analysis to show the NOD if expenditure growth were 2 and 3 percentage points higher annually than the baseline growth rates. On this basis, the NOD could range from 4 – 7% of GDP by 2025 (estimates are rounded).
The government NOD forecast sits in between this range, albeit the definition of NOD is different.8 The authorities forecast the NOD at 7.4% of GDP in 2018, 7.0% in 2020, 6.5% in 2022 and 6.0% in 2025.9 This NOD estimate is in the range of previous international estimates ranging from 5% to 8% for 2025 based on various fiscal adjustment strategies (World Bank, 2017[5]). However, these forecasts may depend on relatively optimistic underlying forecasts of non-oil revenue, expenditures and GDP (higher GDP forecasts reduce the NOD).
Figure 3.8. The forecasts of the non-oil deficit are significant
NOD as a % of GDP, under different expenditure scenarios, 2010 - 2025
Note: The non-oil deficit and baseline scenario growth for non-oil revenue and expenditure are calculated as described in Table 3.3. In the ‘modestly higher annual expenditure’ scenario, 2 percentage point are added to the baseline expenditure growth forecast in each year (for example, if the expenditure growth is 5.0%, it is increased to 7.0%). Similarly, in the ‘higher annual growth’ scenario, 3 percentage points are added to the baseline non-oil revenue growth in each year.
Source: OECD revenue statistics; the OECD multi-dimensional review of Kazakhstan 2016; publicly available data from the State Revenue Committee of Kazakhstan; (IMF, 2020[1]).
3.3.3. Financing the NOD by raising more tax revenues
Reducing the NOD would require raising significantly more tax revenues. The tax-to-GDP ratio is 16.4% in 2017; the figure includes the SSCs that are paid to separate social funds. On the basis of the previous simulation analysis, to eliminate fully its NOD, Kazakhstan will have to raise its tax-to-GDP ratio by 4 - 7 percentage points. This financing need for the NOD is the starting basis for the analysis below, which examines which taxes it might be raised from. Research conducted by the Economic Research Institute in Kazakhstan reaches a similar result showing that the tax-to-GDP ratio could be increased by 4 – 5 percentage points within 10 years (from the level of 2018) with limited negative effects on economic growth and tax collection (Alpysbayeva, Kenzhebulat and Karashulakov, 2019[6]).
Financing needs could be met by gradually moving some taxes that have the potential for generating more revenues and are less dependent on revenues from the resource-sector. Kazakhstan’s tax base is concentrated in taxes on goods and services (8.4% of GDP) and taxes on companies (4.5%) and to a lesser extent taxes on individuals (1.4%), SSCs (0.5%) and property taxes (0.5%) (see Chpater 3). To support its financing needs and simultaneously increase the diversity of the tax base, Kazakhstan could support the financing of the NOD by raising tax revenues from taxes that ‘underperform’ relative to the OECD average and which are less exposed to the resource-sector.
There are several ways in which taxes could be raised to finance the NOD. Tax revenue increases could come from a combination of PIT, SSCs and property taxes along with a modest increase in taxes on goods and services. Table 3.4 shows the additional taxes as a share of GDP that would be required to cover a NOD of 6% of GDP for example, which lies between the 4 – 7% of GDP shown in the previous simulation analysis. For example, taxes on goods and services as a share of GDP are 8.4% in 2017. According to the analysis shown in Table 3.4 an additional 0.6% in taxes on goods and services would be needed to finance the NOD by 2025, along with the other increases in tax revenues shown. This analysis provides a framework for considering which taxes, and how much revenue from each tax, might need to be raised. A range of revenue raising alternatives are possible across the different taxes. As part of the recommendations in this report, there is additional scope for raising tax revenues from PIT including tax on personal capital income, SSCs, property taxes and VAT. For example, one option could be increases in taxes on individuals, SSCs and property taxes while modestly increasing taxes on goods and services) and maintaining current company tax levels. The scheduled increase in SSCs may contribute to lowering the NOD, but only to the extent to which the higher SSCs will finance social spending that already takes place. If the scheduled increase in employee and employer SSCs will finance additional social spending, the reform will leave the current NOD intact, which then will have to be financed through other tax increases. Maintaining revenues of company taxes constant over time would, in an environment of decreasing oil prices because of decarbonisation of the world economy, imply a gradual increase in company taxes paid by the non-oil sector in Kazakhstan. While reaching the OECD average should not be thought of as a goal in itself, it provides a framework for identifying where there may be potential to generate more tax revenues from less volatile tax revenue sources.
Table 3.4. Ways to finance the NOD by increasing revenues from underutilised taxes
Estimated NOD as % of GDP, future financing needs & additional tax required to close gap with OECD average levels
Note: Figures are rounded. Company taxes as a share of GDP is assumed to remain constant. (1) Since not all taxes are included for the purposes of this analysis, total taxes do not sum exactly to the total.
Source: OECD statistics.
Box 3.1. Proposed tax reforms of the authorities in the coming years
In 2019, the State of the Nation address set out a number of tax reforms including on PIT, SSCs, VAT and CIT. Prior to this, the 100 concrete steps were set out by former President Nursultan Nazarbayev. This box highlights some of the key proposed reforms.
PIT
Reduce the tax burden on low-income earners, perhaps by introducing a progressive personal income tax scheme (2018).
Consider how to produce a more equitable distribution of national income (2019).
Introduce legislation to exempt SMEs from PIT for up to three years (2019).
Consider providing incentives for employers to increase employee wages (2019).
SSCs
Postpone the introduction of additional pension contributions at a rate of 5% until 2023 (2019).
Consider the growing number of social contributions, which may push some business into the informal economy (2019).
Consolidate the extra-budgetary SSCs by creating a unified social fund and introducing one social payment (2019).
Improve the effectiveness of the pension system generally (2019).
VAT
Consider applying simpler and faster VAT refunds (2019).
Track imported goods when they enter Kazakhstan up until their sale (2018).
Consider introducing a sales tax instead of a VAT (2018).
CIT and Land Tax
Transfer of SME CIT revenues from the central to the local budgets starting in 2020 (2019).
Consider how the tax system could stimulate companies to invest in human capital, in raising labour productivity and exports (2019).
Introduce tax credits for enterprises implementing new investment projects (2019).
Consider the low level of direct tax on land (2019).
Source: State of the Nation Address 2019; 100 concrete steps 2018.
Box 3.2. Guiding principles for successful tax reform in Kazakhstan
Adopt a comprehensive approach to tax reform. Tax reforms should be introduced as part of a holistic and comprehensive tax reform package rather than in isolated elements (Alt et al., 2008[21]). Different tax reforms across taxes should be evaluated together where possible. For example, tax systems should ensure that the overall tax burden on capital income (taking into account the business tax rate and the taxes on capital income at the individual shareholder level) is aligned with the tax burden on labour income (in particular at the highest income levels). Alternatively, in considering raising more tax revenues, introducing a progressive PIT system could provide an alternative to a VAT rate increase in an already inflationary environment. Similarly, given a number of special tax regimes for individuals and SMEs, the addition of the new Single Aggregate Payment (SAP) regime in Kazakhstan, while a good policy in principle (discussed in greater detail in 5), will have implications for all other regimes. Tax reform should be consistent and phased-in gradually.
Frequent and sporadic tax policy changes produce uncertainty and undermine planning for both businesses and individuals who need to understand and respond to them. Kazakhstan may benefit from putting in place a consistent tax policy plan over the medium-term, which to the extent possible, does not change over the period of the plan. In addition, tax reforms may benefit from being phased-in gradually. Some reforms can be implement immediately, but other reforms require good planning and preparation, such as the introduction of a recurrent tax on immovable property.
Keep the design of the tax system as simple as possible. A complex tax system, where enforcement capacity is relatively limited, creates opportunities for tax evasion. In addition, complexity increases compliance costs for taxpayers, which in turn reduces the efficiency and potentially fairness of tax systems. For instance, high compliance costs may bear disproportionately upon certain categories of individuals or firms, in particular small firms. Tax systems should aim to be efficient by limiting distortions in the behaviour of individuals as much as possible. In general terms, this can be achieved by broadening the tax base and keeping tax rates as low as possible. For example, broad bases simplify the system by reducing the number of allowances, deductions and other exemptions, and reduce compliance costs for individuals and businesses related to understanding qualifying and reporting requirements. Furthermore, when special tax provisions are provided, tax rates must be higher than otherwise would have been the case to compensate for the tax loss associated with them, which produces a deadweight loss. In this way, reduced tax rates can increase efficiency and limit distortive behaviour in the tax system (Brys et al., 2016[7]).
Tax policy design and tax administration are complementary. Good tax policy involves ensuring that tax policy designs are administratively feasible, which is a relevant principle in the case of Kazakhstan. Tax policy changes may have unintended effects if they are not accompanied by tax administration improvements including through third-party reporting and strengthened auditing capacity. For instance, higher tax rates may lead to lower revenues if the tax administration’s verification capacity is limited and taxpayers can easily avoid or evade taxes.
Source: OECD analysis.
References
[6] Alpysbayeva, S., M. Kenzhebulat and G. Karashulakov (2019), “The Potential for Increasing Tax Revenues Amidst Reducing Fiscal Inconsistencies Zone(based on Kazakhstan’s economy researches)”, HSE Economic Journal, Vol. 23/3, pp. 365-383, https://ideas.repec.org/a/hig/ecohse/201932.html (accessed on 6 August 2020).
[2] Botta, E. (2020), The fiscal implications of the low-carbon transition, http://www.oecd.org/greengrowth (accessed on 14 February 2020).
[7] Brys, B. et al. (2016), “Tax Design for Inclusive Economic Growth”, OECD Taxation Working Papers, No. 26, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://dx.doi.org/10.1787/5jlv74ggk0g7-en.
[3] EITI (2018), Extractive industry transparency initative.
[1] IMF (2020), Republic of Kazakhstan : 2019 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; and Staff Report, https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/CR/Issues/2020/01/29/Republic-of-Kazakhstan-2019-Article-IV-Consultation-Press-Release-and-Staff-Report-49002?cid=em-COM-123-41052 (accessed on 11 February 2020).
[4] OECD (2020), Global Revenue Statistics Database, https://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=RS_GBL (accessed on 4 August 2020).
[5] World Bank (2017), Enhancing the fiscal framework to support economic transformation, https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/bitstream/handle/10986/28939/121677.pdf?sequence=5&isAllowed=y (accessed on 29 August 2019).
Notes
← 1. The CIS include Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.
← 2. It should be noted that the definition of what constitutes tax and non-tax revenues differ in Kazakhstan and the OECD revenue statistics. The share of the Republic of Kazakhstan under production sharing contracts of oil companies, the bonuses of oil and non-oil sector companies, the levy for the use of the radio-frequency spectrum, the payment to compensate for historic costs as well as certain other items are classified as non-tax revenues according to the OECD Interpretative Guide, but are considered as tax revenues in Kazakhstan.
← 3. Note that the OECD global revenue statistics database show that oil sector tax revenues are 33% of total tax revenues in 2018.
← 4. In 2017 for example, taxes on exports excluding those to the National Fund (OECD revenue statistics) and exports custom duty on crude oil (State Revenue Committee of Kazakhstan) were KZT 904 476 and KZT 854 530 respectively, a difference of only of 5.8%.
← 5. The share of the Republic of Kazakhstan under production sharing contracts of oil companies, the bonuses of oil and non-oil sector companies, the levy for the use of the radio-frequency spectrum, the payment to compensate for historic costs as well as certain other items are classified as non-tax revenues according to the OECD revenue statistics Interpretative Guide. The classification used by Kazakhstan does consider these revenues as tax revenues. This report follows the tax definition and classification from OECD revenue statistics.
← 6. Under this definition, tax revenues to the budget exclude taxes paid by the oil sector (but include export duties on crude oil) and non-tax revenues paid to the general budget exclude non-taxes paid by the oil sector.
← 7. The decrease in the NOD in 2018 is largely due to the reduction in current expenditures in that year.
← 8. The NOD is defined by the authorities in Kazakhstan as the difference between budget revenues (with the exception of loan receipts, transfers from the National Oil Fund and export customs on crude oil) and expenditures (with the exception of repayment of loans). These forecasts are according to the Presidential degree in 2016.
← 9. Forecast of Department of Macroeconomic Analysis and Forecasting. Ministry of National Economy (2019).