What the Query “VAT in Tenge” Means
VAT in tenge is the amount of value added tax expressed in Kazakhstan’s national currency. For an accountant, the practical question usually concerns how to extract the tax from the price, charge it on top of the cost, recalculate the figures for a foreign-currency transaction, or verify the amount stated in a document. There is no universal fixed amount of VAT in tenge: the calculation result depends on the value of the specific transaction, the applicable rate, and the terms of the transaction.
To avoid errors, first determine the nature of the turnover and the transaction’s tax treatment. Only then should the applicable rate and conversion rules be applied. In 2026, the standard VAT rate is 16%. Before calculating it, however, it is necessary to determine the turnover date, check whether an exemption applies, and verify the grounds for crediting VAT based on the transaction documents.
The mere fact that an invoice or contract states an amount in tenge is not sufficient. The currency stated does not answer whether the transaction is subject to VAT, whether the seller must calculate the tax, or whether the buyer is entitled to credit the VAT amount charged.
How to Calculate VAT in Tenge
The calculation procedure depends on whether the tax is included in the price or charged on top of it. For transactions subject to the standard rate in 2026, the calculation uses the 16% rate.
If the contract price is stated excluding VAT, the accountant follows the general approach:
- determines the transaction value excluding VAT in tenge;
- multiplies it by the VAT rate applicable to the transaction;
- adds the calculated tax to the value excluding VAT;
- reconciles the total with the contract, invoice, and source document.
For the standard rate in 2026, the formula is as follows:
VAT = value excluding VAT × 16%.
If the price already includes VAT, the tax is not charged on top of the stated amount but is extracted from it. At the standard rate of 16%, the following calculation formula applies:
VAT included in the price = price including VAT × 16 / 116.
After extracting the tax, the value excluding VAT is determined as the difference between the total price and the calculated VAT amount. If a different statutory tax treatment applies to the transaction, the standard-rate formula must not be used.
The rate should not be applied automatically based solely on the payment date. Before making the calculation, it is important to compare the turnover date, the subject matter of the transaction, the seller’s status, and the contract terms. For transactions spanning tax periods, the actual circumstances of the supply and the dates on which the related documents were issued must be taken into account.
The calculation result should be checked by reversing the calculation: the value excluding tax plus VAT must equal the document’s total amount. Discrepancies may arise due to rounding, incorrect extraction of tax from the price, or applying the rate to the wrong value.
What an Accountant Should Check in the Documents and Accounting Records
Before recognizing VAT in tenge, it is useful to check the entire transaction chain in sequence:
- Establish the seller’s VAT status as of the transaction date.
- Determine the transaction’s tax treatment and the rate applicable to it.
- Clarify whether the contract price includes VAT or whether the tax is stated in addition to the price.
- Compare the contract, source document, payment invoice, and electronic invoice when one has been issued for the transaction.
- Check the names of the parties, IIN or BIN, dates, value, currency, calculation base, and VAT amount.
- Reconcile the tax amount in the documents, tax register, and accounting records.
If the contract is denominated in a foreign currency or contains a currency adjustment clause, the foreign-currency amount must be correctly converted into tenge as of the date applicable to the relevant transaction. After conversion, the accountant calculates VAT and compares the resulting figures with the contract terms and issued documents. The exchange rate used, the conversion date, and the arithmetic must be consistent across the related documents and accounting data.
Adjustments require particular attention. If the value or quantity of the supply or the transaction terms change, or if an error is identified, the accountant should determine which documents reflect the change and to which period it relates. Correcting the amount only in the accounting software without making corresponding changes to the related documents may lead to discrepancies between the accounting records, electronic documents, and tax reporting.
Refund of Excess VAT in Tenge
An amount of VAT in tenge may appear not only in calculations for sales and purchases but also in a claim for a refund of excess VAT. When preparing such a claim, the accountant must reconcile the amount claimed with the tax reporting and documents relating to the relevant tax period.
A transitional rule has been established for claims for a refund of excess VAT submitted before 1 January 2026: they are reviewed in accordance with the procedure and within the time limits stipulated by the Tax Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 25 December 2017 (Article 833 of the Tax Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan). Therefore, the claim submission date must not be replaced with its review date when determining the applicable procedure.
This transitional provision specifically applies to tax applications and claims submitted before 1 January 2026. It does not establish a formula for calculating VAT on ordinary sales and does not extend the previous procedure to claims submitted on or after that date.
An accountant handling a refund of excess VAT should separately record the claim submission date, the tax period, and the amount according to the reporting data. This approach makes it possible to correctly distinguish applications covered by the transitional provision from documents submitted after 1 January 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can VAT in tenge be determined quickly? — First, establish whether the tax is included in the price. If the price is stated excluding VAT and the standard 2026 rate applies, the tax amount is calculated as the value excluding VAT × 16%. If the tax is included in the price, it is extracted using the following formula: price including VAT × 16 / 116.
Can the VAT amount be determined solely from the total price? — Only if it is known that the price includes VAT and the applicable rate has been determined. At the standard rate of 16%, the tax is extracted from the price using the coefficient 16 / 116.
Must VAT be charged on top of every amount in tenge? — No. The transaction’s tax treatment, the seller’s status, and the pricing terms must first be determined. If the contract amount already includes VAT, charging the tax again on top of it will distort the total value.
What should be done if the VAT amount in the contract differs from the amount in the invoice? — The value excluding VAT, the rate applied, the rounding procedure, and the provision concerning whether the tax is included in the price should be compared. The corrected amount must be consistently reflected in the documents and accounting records relating to the transaction.
What rule applies to a refund claim submitted before 2026? — A claim submitted before 1 January 2026 is reviewed in accordance with the procedure and within the time limits stipulated by the Tax Code dated 25 December 2017 (Article 833 of the Tax Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan).