Uzbekistan's Presidential Decree No. UP-103 of 2 June 2026 exempts qualifying cultural entities from value-added tax, corporate income tax, turnover tax, land tax, and property tax effective 1 September 2026 to 1 January 2036, while providing personal income tax relief for employees and withholding tax exemptions for foreign filmmakers.
Uzbekistan has released Presidential Decree No. UP-103 of 2 June 2026, which introduces various measures aimed at the modernisation and expansion of cultural and arts sectors in Uzbekistan.
To foster new talent, the government is establishing specialised creative associations and a dedicated investment fund to finance artistic business projects. Significant financial incentives are introduced, including substantial tax exemptions for private theatres and film studios, alongside cash prizes for winners of international competitions. The exemptions are quite extensive and also include benefits for employees and foreign production companies.
Valid from 1 September 2026 to 1 January 2036, entities whose main business activity consists of concert performances, cinematography, creating content for children, non-governmental theatres, studio-theatres, and private educational organisations in the fields of art and culture are exempted from:
- Value-added tax (VAT)
- Corporate income tax (profit tax)
- Turnover tax
- Land tax
- Property tax
In addition to these corporate tax exemptions, the Decree outlines the following tax incentives:
- Employee tax relief: Workers employed by these qualifying entities are entirely exempt from personal income tax.
- Incentives for foreign filmmakers: The income of foreign companies earned from film production activities on the territory of Uzbekistan is excluded from the tax base for withholding tax on non-residents’ incomes.
To formally establish these incentives, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Tax Committee, and the Ministry of Culture were tasked with submitting a draft law regarding these tax benefits to the Cabinet of Ministers within two months.
