Cashless payment introduced for certain goods in Uzbekistan

As of April 1 of this year, a new procedure has come into effect in the trade and service sector in Uzbekistan. This was reported by Zamin.uz.

Now, it has become mandatory to make payments for certain types of goods and services only in a cashless form, i.e., via bank cards or mobile applications. Representatives of the Tax Committee noted that this innovation is an important step aimed at making the economy more transparent and strengthening tax administration.

According to the new regulation, nearly twenty-eight thousand types of goods and services will be sold only via bank cards. The main part of this list—specifically about twenty-two thousand—consists of tobacco and alcohol products.

From now on, cash will not be accepted for the purchase of these products. Additionally, payments for five thousand types of goods priced above twenty-five million soums, five hundred sixty-one types of real estate and vehicles, as well as fifty-six state services must be made exclusively through the banking system.

During the checkout process in stores, the system will operate automatically. If a customer purchases tobacco products along with groceries, the cash register system will require payment for the tobacco portion only via card.

For the remaining products, the customer will still be able to pay with cash. If the customer removes the restricted item from the receipt, the system will return to its normal state.

The main goal of these changes is to reduce the shadow turnover in the economy and ensure financial transparency. Furthermore, operations regarding utility payments, gas stations, electric vehicle charging stations, and the sale of vehicles that are no more than ten years old have also been fully transitioned to the cashless system.

Such measures serve to strengthen order in the market and increase control.