Shymkent entrepreneurs fight to reclaim millions in wrongful advertising fees
Over 2,500 entrepreneurs in Shymkent have struggled for months to reclaim millions in wrongful charges. The issue stems from disputed fees for outdoor advertising, later ruled illegal. Despite cancellations, most of the money remains trapped in the tax system. The problem began last autumn when regulators issued mass assessments for what they classified as outdoor advertising. Many businesses, like Sultanhodzhaev, received bills for nearly 560,000 tenge—charges they insisted were for ordinary signage, not ads. The confusion arose from unclear distinctions between ‘advertising’ and ‘signage’, leading to widespread disputes.
Regulatory inspections later uncovered systemic violations in how these fees were applied. Authorities eventually cancelled hundreds of millions in assessments, acknowledging the errors. Yet by early May, only 59 entrepreneurs had successfully recovered their funds, leaving around 260 million tenge still frozen. The drawn-out process has left businesses grappling with bureaucratic delays. While the fees were declared unlawful, the majority of affected entrepreneurs are still waiting for their money. Regulators continue working to resolve the backlog and release the frozen sums.
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