VAT in Uzbekistan 2026: rate, 6%, threshold, credits, export

Yaroslav Kolesov

Partner, Accounting & Tax practice

DipIFR, CPA Uz, ACCA Affiliate · chief accountant, 15+ years in international companies

Last updated 2026-06-16 · 8 min read

✓ Facts verified against primary sources (lex.uz, soliq.uz)

Last updated 2026-06-16 · 8 min read · ✓ Facts verified against primary sources (lex.uz, soliq.uz)

The standard VAT rate in Uzbekistan in 2026 is 12%; from June 1, 2026 a voluntary 6% rate is available for trade, catering and services, and the export of goods is taxed at 0%. The mandatory VAT registration threshold is 12,000 BCU (almost 5 billion sum). Let's break VAT down step by step: rates, when to register, how to calculate, and where not to lose your credits.

VAT in numbers: what to know right away

VAT in Uzbekistan is an indirect tax on value added. It is built into the price of a good or service, and the business acts as a "collector": it receives the tax from the buyer and remits to the budget the difference between output and input VAT. That is why the key concepts here are the rate, the registration threshold and the input VAT credit. Let's go through each.

What are the VAT rates in Uzbekistan in 2026?

From June 1, 2026 Uzbekistan effectively has not one but three VAT rates depending on the activity and the taxpayer's choice.

The standard 12% is the default rate for most taxable domestic transactions. The voluntary 6% is a new option from June 1, 2026 for trade, catering and services: a lower rate, though the credit logic may differ, so the choice is worth calculating. The zero rate of 0% applies to the export of goods and is fundamentally different from an exemption: with 0% the right to credit input VAT is preserved.

At what turnover must you register as a VAT payer?

The main 2026 change for small business is the higher threshold. From June 1, 2026 the mandatory VAT registration threshold was raised to 12,000 BCU (almost 5 billion sum).

In practice this means a large share of small businesses now stays outside VAT for longer. But the threshold is not only about obligation: you can register as a VAT payer voluntarily if it is beneficial (for example, if your clients are themselves on VAT and want to credit your tax).

When to register: step by step

1. 1

   Assess annual turnover

   Compare actual and forecast turnover with the 12,000 BCU (≈5bn sum) threshold. If you are approaching it, prepare to register in advance.

2. 2

   Choose the rate

   For trade, catering and services, compare the standard 12% with the voluntary 6%, factoring in your credits and client mix.

3. 3

   Register as a VAT payer

   Once the threshold is exceeded, registration is mandatory. Voluntary registration below the threshold is also possible — the procedure is on soliq.uz.

4. 4

   Set up electronic invoices

   Enable issuing electronic invoices (EI) in the prescribed format — without them you cannot claim a credit.

What is input VAT and how do you claim a credit?

This is the heart of the VAT mechanism. You remit to the budget not the entire tax received from buyers (output VAT) but the difference between it and the VAT you yourself paid to suppliers (input VAT).

The formula is simple:

VAT payable = Output VAT − Input VAT (credited)

For input VAT to be creditable, several conditions usually must be met at once: the goods or services are used in VAT-taxable activity, there is a correctly issued electronic invoice, and the transaction actually took place and is recorded. If even one condition is unmet, the credit can be lost — and you will pay more.

Export: the 0% rate and the right to a credit

The export of goods is taxed at a 0% VAT rate subject to documentary confirmation of export. This is a favorable structure: you do not charge VAT on export revenue, yet you keep the right to credit the input VAT on export-related costs. For export-oriented business this means VAT does not eat into the margin. The exact list of supporting documents and the procedure for applying the zero rate are described in the Tax Code of Uzbekistan — check the current version.

Electronic invoices (EI)

VAT invoices in Uzbekistan are issued electronically in the prescribed format. The electronic invoice is not a formality but the core document that credits rely on: it is from these that the tax authority sees input and output VAT. If a supplier did not issue a valid electronic invoice, your credit is in question. So when you are on VAT, it is critical to ensure every incoming invoice is issued correctly and on time.

How to calculate VAT: a simple example

The logic is easiest to see with an example. Suppose you are on the standard 12% rate.

• You sold goods for 100 million sum and added 12% VAT on top — that is 12 million sum of output VAT.
• To do so you bought goods from a supplier for 60 million sum and paid them 12% VAT — that is 7.2 million sum of input VAT.
• You remit the difference to the budget: 12 − 7.2 = 4.8 million sum.

If you applied the voluntary 6% rate (trade/services), output VAT would be calculated at 6%, but it is important to check separately how credits actually work in your case. So the choice between 12% and 6% is not "lower is always better": it depends on the share of input VAT in your costs. We run the exact calculation for each specific business.

Common VAT mistakes

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Frequently asked questions