Payments in Uzbekistan will gradually transition to a cashless form

Important steps are being taken in Uzbekistan to regulate the financial system, reduce the share of the shadow economy, and develop modern payment technologies. This was reported by Zamin.uz.

Starting from April 1, 2026, certain payments will only be made in a cashless form. This was established by a presidential decree adopted on December 10 and officially announced by the Ministry of Justice.

According to the new regulation, payments for government services, electricity, gas, and drinking water, sales of alcohol and tobacco products, purchases of fuel and electricity, goods and services valued over 25 million soums, as well as sales of real estate or cars that are less than 10 years old will only be conducted through electronic payments. These measures aim to increase transparency in the economy, reduce the risk of fraud, and widely implement modern payment methods.

The decree aims to reduce the share of the shadow economy relative to GDP by 1.3 times by 2030 and to increase the share of cashless payments in trade and service sectors to 75 percent. This will contribute to ensuring economic stability.

By January 1, 2026, all legal entities must have a unified QR code to accept electronic payments. From July 1, the use of QR codes will become mandatory.

Failure to use QR codes will be considered a violation of trade rules. This requirement is intended to simplify payment processes and protect consumer rights.

Additionally, starting January 1, 2026, environmental and conformity certificates for imported goods will be issued for one year. From March 1, the submission of annual income declarations by tax authorities’ employees and individuals residing in the cities of Navoi and Chirchiq will be introduced on a trial basis.

These changes aim to strengthen tax control and further improve order.