Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The Chinese marketplace Temu must pay taxes amounting to approximately 46 billion soums in order to lift the ban on its operations in Uzbekistan. This was announced on 1 April by Mubin Mirzaev, First Deputy Chairman of the Tax Committee.

According to him, taxation of electronic trading platforms remains a significant issue worldwide. An analysis conducted by the Tax Committee revealed that many e-commerce marketplaces fail to fulfill their tax obligations. Among these platforms are not only Temu but also Wildberries, which, as noted by Mirzaev, has not paid taxes to date.

"Many may ask: why only Temu? But we have sent notifications to all market participants requiring them to comply with tax legislation," he emphasized.

Mirzaev pointed to the case of Wildberries, which recently paid 51.2 billion soums in taxes to the budget. Following this, the committee issued a statement confirming there were no further claims, allowing the company to continue its operations in Uzbekistan.

Preliminary data shows that Temu's tax arrears amount to about 46 billion soums, though these figures are still being verified by the Tax Committee. As a result, the marketplace has been sent an official notification demanding payment of the debt. If Temu meets its tax obligations, its operations will be legalized.

Information about potential restrictions on Temu first surfaced in early March. A joint statement from the National Agency for Prospective Projects and the Tax Committee indicated that, according to a Cabinet of Ministers resolution from 26 December 2024, No. 885, only companies registered as residents in Uzbekistan can operate as e-commerce platforms, including online marketplaces. This regulation came into force upon its official publication.

An analysis of foreign marketplaces operating in Uzbekistan revealed non-compliance with national legislation requirements. The violations were related to e-commerce, retail, advertising, personal data protection, consumer rights, and intellectual property rights.

As a result, it was announced that, starting from 20 March 2025, access to Temu will be restricted in Uzbekistan. However, the marketplace will be able to resume operations if it registers as a resident of the country and complies with local laws.

On 18 March, the Tax Committee confirmed that Temu had registered in Uzbekistan as a legal entity and had undergone tax registration. Nevertheless, the committee noted that there are still unresolved issues concerning the company's previous activities, and negotiations are ongoing.