Tashkent, Uzbekistan – AN Podrobno.uz. The Tax Committee of Uzbekistan has clarified the discussion about a possible introduction of a zero VAT rate for the public catering sector. The agency emphasized that information circulating on social media about an alleged decision is false: at this stage, only international experience is being studied and optimal approaches to support the industry are being sought.

During recent meetings with business representatives, the committee's leadership did consider scenarios where tax preferences could be introduced for cafes and restaurants. However, as committee chairman Farrukh Pulatov stressed, such benefits cannot be unconditional. The experience of countries where zero VAT became a tool for "whitening" the market was cited as an example — businesses receive tax relief only in exchange for commitments regarding official salary levels and transparency of staffing numbers.

The discussed mechanism implies a right to choose: entrepreneurs can either remain on the standard 12% rate or switch to a preferential regime by voluntarily assuming specific socio-economic obligations. According to deputy committee chairman Jakhongir Abdiev, such a model would create transparent rules of the game, where the state reduces the burden in response to guarantees of legal enterprise operation.

Implementation of these changes into legislation will only be possible if the proposed approach is supported by the majority of market participants. Currently, the Tax Committee is awaiting specific proposals and calculations from the business community. Only after their detailed analysis together with experts will a balanced solution be developed, taking into account the interests of both entrepreneurs and the state.

Source: podrobno.uz