Tajikistan’s export rent rate will rise to 8% starting June 1, 2025, and to 10% from January 1, 2027, according to a letter sent by the Tax Committee under the Government of Tajikistan to regional tax authorities and taxpayers, Asiaplus.tj reports.
The letter states that the export rent rate for cotton yarn and thread, as well as silk thread, will be set at 4% from June 2025 and will increase to 6% starting January 2027.
For context, the export rent rate was introduced on January 1, 2023, at an initial rate of 2%, following a proposal by the Tax Committee. It was later raised to 4% at the beginning of 2025.
Under the current Tax Code, the following exporters are subject to the export rent:
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Concentrates of precious, ferrous, non-ferrous, rare, and radioactive metals;
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Mining and chemical raw materials;
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Precious and semi-precious stones, as well as semi-processed ornamental stone raw materials;
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Raw cotton, cotton fiber, cotton yarn and thread, cocoons, silk thread, wool, and hides.
The tax base for the export rent is determined by the value of goods at the time of export, based on the average delivery price stated in export contracts. However, it cannot be lower than the average market price as reported by the London Metal Exchange, the London Precious Metals Exchange, or other international (regional) exchanges for the relevant period. If no reference prices are available from these exchanges, the tax base is calculated based on prevailing market prices.
Taxpayers must calculate the tax base separately for each category of goods. Export rent payments are due by the 15th of the month following the reporting period.
Failure to submit tax reports for three consecutive reporting months is treated as tax evasion. In such cases, the law requires the taxpayer to pay the owed taxes at double the amount.
Export rent is a common international practice: it represents additional income earned by producers who sell goods, usually raw materials, abroad at higher prices than in domestic markets. Essentially, it is the profit margin gained from selling at higher world market prices. Export rent is typically applied to rare or highly valuable commodities.
Tajikistan’s Exported Goods Subject to Rent in 2024
According to the country’s statistical agency, Tajikistan exported the following goods in 2024 that are subject to the export rent:
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Precious and semi-precious stones and metals: $376 million;
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Base metals and related products: $525 million;
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Textiles (cotton fiber, cotton yarn and thread, silk, and other textile products): $269 million;
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Unprocessed hides and skins: $5.3 million.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
May 27, 2025