The tax component of building and owning a warehouse in Almaty is an important part of financial planning. Not knowing the tax regime leads to unexpected costs: VAT on construction increases the budget by 12%, property tax is an annual recurring expense. Let's walk through the current picture of Kazakhstan tax rates for legal entities for 2025–2026.
12%
VAT rate in Kazakhstan
charged on construction works and materials if the contractor is a VAT payer
20%
CIT rate (Corporate Income Tax)
when selling a warehouse or receiving rental income — base rate for legal entities
1.5%
property tax
of the average annual book value of the building — annual expense item when owning a warehouse
0%
taxes in SEZ 'Alatau'
CIT, VAT, land tax, property tax — when SEZ residency conditions are met
VAT on Construction
How VAT Works on Construction
If the contractor is a VAT payer (registration threshold — 20,000 MCI = ~86 million tenge turnover per year in 2026), their invoice includes 12% VAT.
Example:
- Construction cost excluding VAT: 150,000,000 ₸
- VAT 12%: 18,000,000 ₸
- Total payable: 168,000,000 ₸
Can VAT Be Recovered
If your company is itself a VAT payer (i.e. your turnover exceeds 20,000 MCI/year), the VAT paid to the contractor goes on account and reduces your tax payment.
Scheme:
- You purchased construction for 168 million ₸ (including 18 million VAT)
- In the same period, VAT of 25 million ₸ was charged on your sales
- You pay to the budget: 25 – 18 = 7 million ₸ (instead of 25 million)
If your input VAT exceeds your output VAT — a VAT refund arises, which can be reclaimed from the budget or offset.
If Your Company Is Not a VAT Payer
VAT from the contractor becomes part of the asset cost (capitalised). It cannot be recovered — this is an additional 12% on the investment.
Use a VAT-registered contractor for large builds
Property Tax
Who Pays and How Much
Property tax is levied on legal entities owning real estate in Kazakhstan.
| Taxpayer Category | Rate | Base |
|---|---|---|
| Legal entity (general regime) | 1.5% per year | Average annual residual book value |
| Individual entrepreneur (general regime) | 0.5–1% | Assessed value |
| Small business entities (simplified declaration) | 0.5% | Residual book value |
Example for a legal entity:
- Book value of warehouse (construction + land): 300,000,000 ₸
- Annual depreciation (3–5%): ~12,000,000 ₸
- Average annual book value in year 1: 294,000,000 ₸
- Property tax: 294 × 1.5% = 4,410,000 ₸/year
After 10 years the book value will decrease — so will the tax.
Property Tax Exemptions
- SEZ "Alatau": 0% for the duration of residency
- Property used in production: in some cases, reduced coefficients apply
- Religious organisations, non-profits: exemptions
Land Tax
If the land is owned (not leased), land tax is paid annually.
| Land Category in Almaty | Base Rate (₸/m²/year) |
|---|---|
| Industrial land (within city limits) | 50–200 ₸/m²/year (zone-dependent) |
| Almaty suburban land (Alatau district) | 30–120 ₸/m²/year |
| SEZ land | 0% for residents |
Example:
- Plot 3,000 m² in the Alatau district, rate 80 ₸/m²/year
- Land tax: 240,000 ₸/year
This is a relatively modest sum.
CIT on Warehouse Sale or Lease
On Lease Income
Rental income is included in total annual income and taxed at CIT 20% (legal entity under the general regime).
Example:
- Rental income: 70,000,000 ₸/year
- Expenses (depreciation, taxes, maintenance): 12,000,000 ₸
- Taxable income: 58,000,000 ₸
- CIT 20%: 11,600,000 ₸/year
Net income: 70 – 12 – 11.6 = 46.4 million ₸/year
On Warehouse Sale
Profit from the sale (proceeds − book value) is taxed at CIT 20%.
Example:
- Sale price of warehouse: 400,000,000 ₸
- Book value (net of depreciation): 250,000,000 ₸
- Taxable profit: 150,000,000 ₸
- CIT: 30,000,000 ₸
Simplified Declaration: Who Is It For
Small business entities with turnover up to 24,000 MCI (~103 million ₸) may apply a simplified declaration:
- Rate: 3% of income (instead of 20% CIT)
- No VAT (at turnover up to 20,000 MCI)
- Simpler reporting
Limitation: if rental income exceeds 24,000 MCI — switching to the general regime is mandatory.
Tax Burden: Regime Comparison
For a warehouse with rental income of 70 million ₸/year:
| Regime | Tax Burden | Net Income |
|---|---|---|
| General (CIT 20%) | 11.6 million ₸/year | ~46 million ₸ |
| Simplified declaration (3%) | 2.1 million ₸/year | ~55 million ₸ |
| SEZ "Alatau" (0%) | 0 | ~58 million ₸ |
Warehouse construction in Almaty — we'll help you structure the right tax setup
StroyHub works with tax consultants and helps clients optimally structure asset ownership before construction begins.