Online purchases from foreign stores will become more expensive for consumers in Kazakhstan under new Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) rules, QazMonitor reports.
Earlier, the Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission approved a draft agreement on cross-border e-commerce. The document has been sent to EAEU member states for domestic procedures required prior to signing.
Under the new regulations, goods purchased online from abroad will no longer be classified as items for personal use. Instead, they will fall under the category of “e-commerce goods.”
The duty-free threshold remains at €200. Purchases valued at up to €200 are exempt from customs duties. If the price exceeds this limit, a 5% customs duty is charged on the full value of the purchase.
In addition, value-added tax (VAT) of 16% applies. The minimum customs duty is set at €1 per kilogram. For example, a €300 online purchase would ultimately cost the buyer approximately €360 upon delivery.
The new rules do not apply to online purchases made within EAEU member states, including Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia.
