Rahmon announces extension of small-business inspection moratorium to 2029

Tajikistan's President Emomali Rahmon announced a further two-year extension of the inspection moratorium for small and medium-sized businesses until January 1, 2029. Tax inspections remain exempt from the moratorium.

Rahmon announced the decision during an October 14 meeting with entrepreneurs and investors. He instructed officials to prepare draft regulatory acts by December 1, 2026, to implement the extension and improve the inspection system.

Planned changes include risk assessment when organising inspections and measures to prevent unjustified or repeated checks. Officials are also to consider warnings instead of fines for first-time violations that cause no harm.

Rahmon said inspections, requests for additional documents and summonses to government agencies must occur only in circumstances provided for by law and with clear legal grounds.

For other businesses, inspections from January 1, 2027, should be based on law and risk assessment, with justification and transparency. This is a separate approach rather than an extension of the moratorium to every enterprise.

The announced extension preserves the exception for tax enforcement. Regulatory drafting is intended to set the practical terms of implementation, so the president's statement does not remove all requirements applicable to businesses.