Another important issue has emerged in Uzbekistan's cultural sector. At an open dialogue held on April 21, Minister of Culture Ozodbek Nazarbekov commented on the new regulations for taxing artists. His words have given pause not only to the creative community but also to the general public.
As the minister emphasized, singers and performers engaged in concert activities are currently paying taxes in practice. However, the problem is that some artists are unaware of this process. That is, although they make payments through various sources, they do not accept or understand it as tax.
"This is not yet an approved decision, only a draft. During the discussion, some artists demonstrated their tax illiteracy. In reality, everyone is paying – from weddings and concerts. The issue is whether this tax system is correct and fair," the minister commented.
At the same time, he sharply criticized the notion of refusing to pay taxes. In his opinion, this issue should be viewed not as a discussion but as a duty. This is because it is precisely through taxes that peace, education, and economic stability are ensured in the country.
"The question of whether we pay taxes or not should not be up for discussion here. Everyone pays; there is no one who doesn't pay taxes. One should be ashamed to say 'I won't pay taxes.' Today, thanks to taxes, you sleep peacefully, your children go to school, and you conduct business with peace of mind," Nazarbekov explained.
It is reported that according to the new regulation developed by the Ministry of Justice, starting from September 1, 2026, all concert and performance services will be officially registered through the "Soliq" mobile application. The new system will operate on the principle of "one service – one payment".
In accordance with this mechanism, artists' income tax will be at a fixed rate, calculated based on their rating. The tax amount can range from 0.25 to 3 times the BHM (Basic Calculation Value). Serious fines are foreseen for non-compliance with the rules.
Of course, these changes are not being accepted equally by everyone. Some artists are expressing their objections. For instance, People's Artist Yulduz Usmanova also made a sharp statement on this issue, causing heated discussions among the public.
According to statistical data, in 2025, 728 singers submitted tax declarations for their income. Their total income exceeded 3 billion 728 million soums, from which over 437 million soums in taxes were calculated.
It is evident that there is a need to make the system more transparent and simplify it in the sector. The new rules are aimed precisely at this goal. Now the most important question is – will these reforms truly be convenient and fair for artists? Time will answer this question.
