Lawmakers in Uzbekistan have raised serious concerns over a proposed mechanism that would allow businesses to utilize presidential tax exemptions before they are formally codified into the Tax Code. During a session of the Legislative Chamber, parliamentarians pointed out a glaring bureaucratic discrepancy where various industry-specific incentives, meant to be operational, have been heavily utilized in practice despite lacking official inclusion in the national tax legislation.

The controversial bill, presented by Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance Ahadbek Haydarov, outlines the extension and introduction of tax preferences alongside administrative adjustments targeting Articles 75 and 483 of the Tax Code. Proponents argue that the initiative aims to bridge the prolonged timeline between executive orders issued during regional tours and their cumbersome legislative processing, attempting to justify the lag as a byproduct of rapid economic shifts.

However, members of parliament openly questioned the legality and systemic impact of such measures. Zafar Khudoyberdiyev of the 'Milliy Tiklanish' democratic party warned that bypassing standard legislative channels might severely undermine the authority and consistency of the Tax Code itself. Additionally, Zuhriddin Mavlonov of the 'Adolat' party highlighted a direct contradiction within the code, noting that while Article 75 explicitly prohibits individual tax privileges, Article 483 inexplicably introduces tailored exemptions for specific management directorates.

While government officials defended the measure as a pragmatic response to pressing entrepreneurial demands, independent observers and critics remain skeptical of the administrative disarray. Although the Legislative Chamber ultimately approved the bill in its first reading, authorities acknowledged that further revisions will be necessary to resolve the glaring legal collisions before the second reading.

Source: www.gazeta.uz