The number of active small and medium-sized business (SMB) entities in Kazakhstan fell by more than 200,000 in the first six months of 2026. Kurultai deputy Konstantin Avershin linked the need for additional analysis to changes in the tax regime and asked the government to establish what share of entrepreneurs had genuinely ceased operating and what share had changed tax status.
HOW THE NUMBER OF SMB ENTITIES CHANGED
According to the Bureau of National Statistics, as of 1 January 2026 there were 2.18 million active SMB entities in Kazakhstan. By 1 July, the figure had fallen to 1.97 million, that is, by 200,706 entities.
According to Konstantin Avershin, the most noticeable reduction occurred in Almaty — there the number of SMB entities decreased by 41,252.
HOW MANY SOLE TRADERS CEASED OPERATING
The request separately cites tax authority statistics on individual entrepreneurs (IEs). In the first quarter of 2026, 207,912 IEs ceased operating. In the same period of 2025, the figure was 82,874, and in 2024 — 125,093.
At the same time, the Ministry of National Economy had previously stated publicly that the average rate of IE closures in the first quarters of 2024–2025 was around 104,000, and the additional effect of the current changes was estimated at approximately 100,000 closures.
WHY THEY ARE PROPOSING TO CLARIFY THE STATISTICS
According to the deputy, the Bureau of National Statistics explains the decline in the number of active SMB entities by the transition of some IEs to the special tax regime for self-employed persons, which has been in effect since 1 January 2026.
At the same time, Avershin considers it necessary to separate the actual cessation of entrepreneurial activity from a change in tax status.
In his request, he asks to specify how many IEs genuinely ceased operating, how many switched to the special regime and how many entrepreneurs were unable to continue operating after the change in tax conditions.
WHAT WAS REQUESTED FROM THE GOVERNMENT
The deputy asked for data on the cessation of IE activity in comparison with 2024 and 2025, as well as by region and sector. In addition, he requested an assessment of the impact of the tax changes on employment, the number of jobs, SMB turnover, tax revenues and the shift of entrepreneurial activity into the informal sector.
Based on the results of the analysis, the Әділет party faction proposes to prepare specific proposals for adjusting tax legislation and law enforcement practice in those cases where the negative impact of the new conditions on small and medium-sized businesses is confirmed.
CONTEXT
The consequences of the tax reform for business have been discussed before. Thus, in May 2026, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin commented on reports of SMB entity closures. At the time, he said that part of the statistics needed to be considered in context: according to the ministry, among the closed entities were companies that were not actually operating, entrepreneurs who had other companies, and businesses that had moved into the self-employed category.
At the same time, the minister said he saw no grounds for negative scenarios and cited economic growth and growth in certain sectors. In turn, former Majilis deputy Azat Peruashev reported entrepreneurs' complaints about declining turnover and the possible closure of companies.