A score of legal changes will be taking effect from May 1. The legal-related information portal Norma has provided the details.

Power and gas prices

The following prices will be set for household consumers living in apartment buildings and dormitories centrally equipped with electric stoves for cooking:

• up to 200 kW/h per month — 600 soums;
• from 201 to 500 kW⋅h — 800 soums;
• from 501 to 1,000 kW⋅h — 1,000 soums;
• from 1001 to 5,000 kW⋅h — 1,500 soums;
• from 5,001 to 10,000 kW⋅h — 1,750 soums;
• 10,001 kW⋅h per month and above — 2,000 soums.

Natural gas prices for individuals during the heating season:

• up to 500 cubic meters per month — 1,000 soums per cubic meter;
• from 501 cubic meters to 2,500 cubic meters per month — 1,800 soums;
• from 2,501 cubic meters to 5,000 cubic meters per month — 2,100 soums;
• from 5,001 cubic meters to 10,000 cubic meters per month — 2,500 soums;
• 10,000 cubic meters per month and above — 3,000 soums.

Natural gas prices for individuals during the non-heating season:

• up to 100 cubic meters per month — 1,000 soums per cubic meter;
• from 101 cubic meters to 2,500 cubic meters per month — 1,800 soums;
• from 2,501 cubic meters to 5,000 cubic meters per month — 2,100 soums;
• from 5,001 cubic meters to 10,000 cubic meters per month — 2,500 soums;
• 10,000 cubic meters per month and above — 3,000 soums.

Simplification of registration of conformity

The procedure for registering a declaration of conformity with certification bodies will be canceled. From this date, the formation and recording of declaration will be carried out through the Information System of Technical Regulation.

New limits for duty-free carrying in of goods

The following limits will be set for duty-free carrying in of goods imported into the republic by individuals for personal needs for non-commercial purposes:

• by air transport - $1,000;
• by rail and river transport - $500;
• through automobile (pedestrian) checkpoints - $300;
• via international courier shipments - $200;
• via international postal shipments - $100.

More entitlements for banks

Banks with a government stake of 50% or more and their investment wings will be enttiled to sell property that was not sold at auction and accepted onto the bank's balance sheet to pay off debts. They can also sell such property through loan agreements, installment payments or leasing.

Government oversight of businesses on contractual terms

When concluding an agreement between a business entity and territorial branches for control in the field of construction and housing and utility services, short-term state control measures at business facilities will be carried out in accordance with the terms of the agreement and are not subject to registration in the Unified State Control information system.

Certification of directors of HR departments of government agencies

From May 1, 2025, the assessment of the activities of republican and local executive authorities in human resources management will be carried out by a specially authorized state body in the field of state civil service.

Heads of departments for development and management of human resources of republican and local executive authorities will undergo certification in a specially authorized state body in the sphere of state civil service.

Measures to reduce the use of pre-recorded music & voice tracks in concerts

From May 1, the use of -recorded music & voice tracks will be gradually limited at all concert and entertainment events financed by the State Budget and extra-budgetary funds.

Advertisements of concert and entertainment events must contain the designations - respectively, "Live performance", "Live voice using a -recorded music & voice track" or "Concert program with a phonogram".

Utility bill compensation 

Until April 1, 2027, families receiving child benefits and assistance through the Unified Register of Social Protection information system and added to the Register of Poor Families, as well as families not included in the registers but meeting the criteria of low-income families (income per family member does not exceed 1.5 minimum monthly wages) will be compensated for:

• the difference between prices within 150 kWh above the basic rate for power consumption per month;
• the difference between prices within the basic rate and above the basic rate for a portion of natural gas used during the heating season - up to 250 cubic meters of the basic rate per month, in other periods - up to 150 cubic meters of the basic rate per month.

Tax incentives for residents of creative parks

Tax incentives for residents of the creative parks have been set until January 1, 2031:

• payment of social tax and personal income tax at a 50% reduced rate;

• inclusion of residents in the category of payers of turnover tax regardless of the amount of their income received from the sale of goods (works, services).

At the same time, residents can, at their discretion, switch to the generally established taxation procedure.

Stimulating the consolidation of business entities

When a self-employed person registers as an sole entrepreneur or a legal entity, no state fee shall be charged.

Also, self-employed persons and business entities that have consolidated their activities to the category of an sole entrepreneur, microfirm or small enterprise, respectively, shall be provided with unsecured loans of up to 50 million soums within the framework of the Family Entrepreneurship Development Program, and up to 150 million soums within the framework of the Comprehensive Program for Continuous Support of Small Business.

For business entities that have consolidated their activities to the category of medium or large businesses, respectively, within one year, the VAT amount is reimbursed (refunded) within seven days.

Grants and loans under Hamroh program

Under the Hamroh Women Entrepreneurs Support Program:

• a grant of up to 50 million soums shall be allocated to a thousand entrepreneurs-trainers who have assisted women in implementing "green" projects and projects in the IT sector, as well as in establishing entrepreneurial activities for at least 5 women;
• women with a good credit history shall be provided with an unsecured loan of up to 100 million soums;
• before the delivery of equipment purchased by women entrepreneurs using the loan, JSC "Entrepreneurship Development Company" will provide a guarantee.

New procedure for tax audits of businesses 

The requirement to notify a business entity about the start of audits no later than 10 working days in advance will not apply to tax audits on the facts of concealment (understatement) of the tax base, conducted on the basis of the results of the automated program "Determination, Analysis and Assessment of Tax Risk".

Clean Hands Program

The Clean Hands program will be launched, providing hand washing areas with sanitary products and improving the technical condition of sanitary facilities in all healthcare and educational institutions.

In Tashkent and Nukus, as well as regional centers, the implementation of new projects in the following areas is prohibited:

• production of asbestos and cement, sludge and slag;
• tanneries, poultry factories;
• burning of any type of coal without equipping it with highly efficient dust collection and gas cleaning facilities;
• ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy plants, glass, which contain toxic impurities, toxic chemicals;
• waste processing and incineration plants classified as hazard classes I and II.

New procedure for labeling with the Halal sign

It is planned to label with the Halal sign products and services certified in accordance with the requirements of the Institute of Standards and Metrology of Islamic Countries.

The tax authority will be able to suspend the bank transactions of violators

If a business entity is found to have committed tax violations, the tax authority will carry out a procedure to suspend transactions on its bank accounts.

New requirements for use of water transport

It will be permitted to use water transport vehicles (with internal combustion engines and electric motors) equipped with automatic speed reduction equipment, GPS equipment and connected to the national GPS monitoring and navigation system.