In 2020, all payments must be made using online cashier — interview with Zangar Shyndali

In the Address to the People “Constructive Public Dialogue – the Basis of Stability and Prosperity of Kazakhstan,” Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev instructed to strengthen opposition to the shadow economy and tighten the fight against tax evasion. In connection with the implementation of this order, the Government and related ministries are implementing a number of comprehensive measures, one of which is the introduction of cash registers with online data transfer. In an interview with PrimeMinister.kz, the Acting Director of the Department of Digitalization and Public Services of the State Revenue Committee of the Ministry of Finance Zangar Shyndali spoke about the introduction of online cash registers in Kazakhstan, as well as the goals and benefits of this initiative.

— From Jan. 1, 2020, in accordance with the Tax Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, all cash payments in our country must be made through online cash registers. It was previously planned that a full transition to the use of online cash registers will be carried out before the end of this year. Did you manage to complete this task?

— Yes, we did. Until the end of 2019, all taxpayers who use traditional cash registers needed to be transferred to online machines. This task has been completed. The following year, all cash payments must be made using online cashiers. Taxpayers applying the special tax regime on the basis of a patent, single land tax payers, the so-called peasant farms, from next year are required to use cash registers only in cash settlements. For those taxpayers who should have switched to online cashiers before the end of the year, we have already completed the task.

— How many operating cash registers are currently online? How many entrepreneurs have switched to using cash registers with online data transfer, how many have not switched?

— In total, there are 640 thousand cash registers in the republic. Of these, 97% or 620 thousand cash desks are online. If by the number of taxpayers, it turns out 480 thousand taxpayers switched to the use of online cash registers for cash settlements.

— Who is not eligible for the use of online cash registers?

— Online payouts may not be used by taxpayers operating in places where there is no telecommunication network. In general, individuals, second-tier banks, long-distance carriers and taxpayers who do not use cash settlements at all are exempted from using online cash registers. Here it is necessary to clarify that by cash settlements we mean cash and payments using payment cards. In these cases, it is necessary to use cash registers. In the rest of the operations, it is not.

— Why is it necessary to switch from traditional devices to updated cash registers? What is their main purpose? What are the benefits of using online cashiers for entrepreneurs?

— In general, the purpose of cash registers, whether they are traditional or online, does not change. Cash registers fix the deal. An online cash register allows you to transfer this information to the tax authorities. That is, we already see information about monetary transactions without waiting for tax reporting. As you know, tax reporting is done every six months or throughout the year. Advantages — switching to online cash registers allowed us to implement a public service where a taxpayer can register an online cash register without visiting tax authorities, that is, he does not need to fill out a cash settlement book, and there is no need to put a seal on an online cash register. He can do all this remotely and on the site of the fiscal data operator. That is, here we minimize contact with tax authorities.

— What is the effect already felt by entrepreneurs who have introduced online cash registers?

— The main advantages for an entrepreneur — if he has more than 2-3 cash desks, he sees all the cash payments and operations remotely. He can remove these cash desks remotely without coming to the tax authorities. All of his reports, interim, final, daily, can see, shoot online, remotely.

— What benefits are provided for entrepreneurs using online cash registers?

— During 2019, in order to encourage taxpayers to purchase a tax office, the norm was working, within which the state returns 50% of the amount of the purchased cash register machine. This rate only worked this year. Therefore, taxpayers who apply the special tax regime on the basis of a patent, as well as single land tax payers, and anyone who wants to purchase cash registers with a 50% discount, we urge them do it this year, because next year there will not be such an opportunity.

— Tell us more about the process of implementing online cashiers. What should an entrepreneur start with? Should he buy the device at his own expense? What applications and sites can he use?

— First, an entrepreneur must be registered as an individual entrepreneur or legal entity. Then he purchases a cash register at any public service center, or downloads the application, since digitalization has made it possible to switch from traditional iron cash registers to online cash registers. The application can be used through a computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone. After the acquisition, he registers this cash register on the website of the fiscal data operator. Concludes a contract where the fiscal data operator receives and transfers information about monetary settlements to the tax authorities. Next, you need to knock out checks for each perfect operation.

— In general, what will the introduction of online cashiers change? Will tax collection increase?

— Cash registers are a tool in the fight against the shadow economy. According to research, most of the shadow economy falls on trade, where cash prevails. Just cash registers allow you to fiscalize this cash. Today we see about 3 billion checks that have already been struck online. The more checks consumers will demand, the more information we will see, the more cash will be fiscalized.

— What are the expectations for reducing the shadow economy? How effective is this mechanism?

— Here, not only the forces of the state need to fight the shadow economy, consumers are important to us. They must claim their legal checks. In order to stimulate every year over the past five years, we hold promotions, where we encourage to receive checks. Next year we want to implement a cash back, when from each check the consumer will receive a bonus that he can spend on paying taxes.

— As we know, the online system is being introduced in stages. Until this time, have there been any massive failures or other problems?

— In general, we switched to online cash desks from mid-2015. We began to cover all taxpayers at once with distributors of oil products, alcohol products. We expanded this list step by step. Arising questions, technical problems, of course, were. But we, together with the developers of the fiscal data operator, solved these problems. 2019 was the final year with us, where we also divided for the convenience of taxpayers into three stages: April, July, October.

— Thank you for the interview!

Stay updated about the events of the Prime Minister and the Government of Kazakhstan - subscribe to the official Telegram channel

Subscribe