Kazakhstan 2026: EV duty holiday is over — quote VAT and the exhausted quota, not 2025 rules
The 15,000-unit preferential EV quota (EAEU HS 8703 80 000 2) was fully used by 14 Oct 2025. From 2026 KGD describes EV imports on general terms; private import VAT is discussed at 16%. Transport-tax exemption for EVs is a separate, domestic rule.
Do not copy a 2024–2025 “duty-free EV” line into a 2026 offer.
Kazakhstan’s State Revenue Committee (KGD) has stated that the 2025 preferential import quota for EVs under EAEU HS 8703 80 000 2 was 15,000 units and was exhausted on 14 October 2025. After that volume, EV imports move to general customs payments and taxes. From 1 January 2026 the import-duty holiday described for that programme no longer applies.
What still needs a case-by-case check (and must not be flattened into one FOB number):
- VAT on private import is discussed in 2026 tax parameters at 16% (was 12%). Dealer invoices already embed tax; grey import does not.
- Customs duty depends on classification, age, engine type and whether the car is personal-use versus commercial. WTO/EAEU treatments are not identical to “zero for every EV”.
- Domestic incentives (for example transport-tax exemption, reduced registration on some used EVs) are not the same as import duty. They do not cancel VAT at the border.
Desk takeaway: any landed estimate for a Chinese BEV into KZ in 2026 must show duty + VAT + broker as a separate block. If a counterpart still quotes “like last year, duty free”, ask for the KGD basis in writing.
*Based on KGD explanations and local reporting (TengriNews / BES, 2025–2026). Confirm with the broker on the actual declaration.*