Tax Committee pushes influencers to declare advertising income

The Tax Committee is seeking to bring the country’s influencer industry into the formal economy by increasing transparency around advertising income and tax compliance among major bloggers.

Photo: Tax Committee

Officials reviewed 110 of Uzbekistan’s most active bloggers and found that 55 were registered as self-employed, 33 as sole proprietors, and 22 as private individuals. Authorities noted that self-employed status does not permit hiring staff, although many leading bloggers work with administrators, videographers, and assistants.

The committee also examined six top bloggers with more than 3 million followers each. According to monitoring data, they posted a combined 360 Stories and 184 sponsored posts in 2025. Electronic invoice records showed total declared income of UZS 2.7 billion, while taxes paid amounted to UZS 110.4 million.

Last year, Uzbekistan unveiled draft legislation that would, for the first time, draw a legal distinction between bloggers and influencers. The proposed rules would ease requirements for bloggers while introducing clearer liability standards for influencers.