From 2026, the simplified tax regime became a handicap for those selling to businesses. We break down when switching to the general regime makes sense and when staying put is better.
From 2026, companies on the general tax regime (OUR) cannot deduct expenses on purchases from simplified-regime (SNR) suppliers. This directly affects you if you are on the simplified regime: your business clients pay effectively more when working with you than with a general-regime competitor.
The problem for those selling to businesses
Say you invoice 100,000 KZT. A general-regime competitor invoices 116,000 KZT (VAT included).
For an LLP client on general regime: after VAT credit and CIT deduction, the competitor costs them 80,000 KZT. You cost them 100,000 KZT. Your lower invoice is actually 20,000 KZT more expensive for them.
LLP client on general regime: your price must be at least 20% lower than a general-regime competitor's base price. Otherwise you are more expensive in real terms.
Sole trader client on general regime: the threshold is 10%.
When to switch to the general regime
Switching makes sense when your clients are LLPs or sole traders on the general regime who pay CIT and track deductions. Specific signals:
- •LLP clients account for more than 40% of your revenue
- •Large clients are asking about your tax regime or pushing to lower prices
- •A general-regime competitor wins deals even though their invoice is larger
- •You want to work with government tenders or large corporate clients
When to stay on the simplified regime
The simplified regime stays advantageous if your buyers are individuals, retail customers, or B2C audiences. They do not need VAT credits or CIT deductions. Stay on SNR if:
- •More than 70% of clients are individuals or organizations not paying CIT
- •Average ticket is small and switching to general regime would require significant accounting costs
- •Your niche has almost no general-regime competitors
How to calculate your threshold
Take the last 12 months of revenue and break it down by client type:
| Client type | Share of revenue | Conclusion |
|---|---|---|
| LLP on general regime | more than 40% | Model the switch to general regime |
| Sole trader on general regime | more than 60% | Model the switch to general regime |
| Individuals, NGOs, budget orgs | more than 70% | Stay on simplified regime |
| Mixed client base | roughly 50/50 | Need a financial calculation |
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