At a press conference on April 1, Mubin Mirzayev, the first deputy chairman of the Tax Committee, announced that the popular Chinese e-commerce platform Temu has not paid 46 billion soums in taxes in Uzbekistan. This is part of a wider problem in the e-commerce sector.
What happened?
Uzbekistan introduced new rules for e-commerce at the end of 2024. Starting from December 28, international platforms operating in the country will be required to register as legal entities. These rules are intended to make the tax system more transparent and increase budget revenues.
But Temu ignored this requirement. The organization carried out its activities with extensive advertising, but did not register legally and did not pay taxes. As a result, it was issued a letter of objection and the platform was blocked in Uzbekistan starting from March 20.
What are others doing?
For example, the Wildberries platform was given a positive conclusion because it paid more than 51 billion soums in taxes. This means that platforms that comply with the law continue to operate freely.
What is Temu doing now?
According to Mubin Mirzayev, if Temu pays its taxes, it has the opportunity to formalize and restore its activities. Currently, Temu is registered as a legal entity, but the blocking remains in effect for the period during which it did not pay taxes.
Who is this important for?
This situation should serve as an example for users, startups, and e-commerce platforms interested in e-commerce. The digital economy requires transparency – after profit, there must be taxes.
