OREANDA-NEWS. February 24, 2011. Vice Prime Minister Erbol Orynbayev announced that Kazakhstan is launching a project to reform its taxation system. The program seeks to simplify submission of tax reports and raise tax collection by 20%. Besides, headcount of tax bodies is to be slashed by 20%.

The project is worth USD 57 million, with USD 40 million to be provided by the Kazakh Government and the other USD 17 million coming from the World Bank. Involvement of the World Bank allows attracting best consultants and now-how.

Respective agreement on the WB loan was signed July 12, 2010.

Daulet Ergozhin, Head of the Tax Committee within the Finance Ministry, said in an interview today that “the new system will reduce the number of contacts between taxpayers and tax bodies officers. Irregularities and wrongdoings will be revealed automatically. The project seeks to bolster measures against tax evasion”.

According to Mr. Ergozhin, “our goal is to enter the club of top 20 tax services of the world to facilitate entrance of foreign business into the market and put in place favorable conditions for domestic and foreign businessmen, ensuring greater tax collection”.