On 2 September 2026, the State Tax Service (STS) reported the discovery of non-alcoholic beverages bearing counterfeit excise stamps during a targeted inspection in Osh city. The operation was conducted under the Law on Excise Taxes and the Technical Regulation of the EAEU on the Safety of Juice Products. Counterfeit stamps undermine the automated excise tracking system (AIS ESKN) and result in direct revenue leakage estimated at millions of soms annually. The STS has opened criminal proceedings under Article 247 of the Criminal Code (illegal manufacture or sale of excise stamps) and administrative cases against retail outlets selling the affected products.
Key Takeaways
- Stamp Verification Obligation: Retailers and distributors must verify excise stamps via the official mobile application or portal before accepting goods; failure to do so constitutes contributory liability.
- Supply Chain Audit: The STS is tracing the counterfeit stamps back to production and wholesale levels, implying expanded audit scope for beverage manufacturers and importers.
- Penalty Framework: Fines for selling goods with counterfeit stamps range from 500 to 2,000 calculation indices for entities, with potential criminal liability for organizers of the fraud.
Disclaimer: This article is compiled and summarized by the AI based on publicly available information and is for general information purposes only. It does not constitute any form of formal tax advice, legal opinion, or basis for performance. Please consult a qualified professional tax advisor or legal counsel for tax advice.
Source: Read Official Announcement