In 2026, Astana Hub conducted its first large-scale review of participants’ audit reports and opinions. The aim was to establish whether companies were carrying out the IT activities required under the terms of participation and how they documented their revenue.
Astana Hub supports companies operating within an approved list of priority activities in information and communication technology. The review helps establish what each company does in practice: the products it develops, the services it provides and the sources of its revenue.
The review raised questions about some companies’ documentation. Some earned revenue from activities outside the approved list. Others did not provide sufficient evidence linking their revenue to their declared IT activities. In certain cases, priority activities accounted for less than 10% of a company’s total revenue. Some participants also failed to submit audit reports.
Following further assessment, three companies had their Astana Hub participant status revoked. Each case was reviewed individually. The decisions were based on non-compliance with the terms of participation or failure to submit mandatory reports. These decisions help ensure that the same rules apply to all companies.
The first year of reviews also highlighted the importance of clearly describing business operations in the documentation. A report should make clear how much revenue a company earned, which activities generated it and what evidence supports those figures.
For the 2026 reporting year, participants are advised to disclose total revenue, revenue from priority activities and the share of total revenue attributable to those activities separately. Revenue from any other activities should also be reported separately.
These figures should be accompanied by explanations identifying the clients and contracts that generated the revenue, as well as the work performed, services provided or digital products sold. Supporting evidence includes contracts, work or service acceptance certificates, electronic tax invoices, commercial invoices and other source documents.
For example, a company that develops custom software is advised to identify the client, the contract and the scope of services provided. A company that generates revenue from a digital product should describe the product and specify the basis of its right to earn revenue from it. Participants are also advised to explain their revenue model, whether through licence sales, subscriptions, access to a service, implementation, maintenance or technical support. Further details are available in the guidelines for preparing audit documentation.
Participants should take the new requirements into account when preparing their 2026 reports. Previously, all revenue had to come from priority activities. Under the revised requirements, these activities must generate at least 90% of total annual revenue, while other activities may account for no more than 10%. Participants are advised to state separately in their reports whether they meet this requirement.
The annual revenue threshold above which a company must submit an audit report and/or opinion has also changed. In the first review cycle, the threshold was KZT 100 million. Under the revised Rules, it is 300,000 monthly calculation indices (MCI). Participants whose revenue exceeds this threshold must submit the documents annually by 20 July, together with their mandatory second-quarter report.
Astana Hub will continue to provide clarification for participants and refine its guidance on report content. The aim is to make document preparation clearer for companies and focus the review process on the matters that determine compliance with the terms of participation.
In 2026, Astana Hub conducted its first large-scale review of participants’ audit reports and opinions. The aim was to establish whether companies were carrying out the IT activities required under the terms of participation and how they documented their revenue.
Astana Hub supports companies operating within an approved list of priority activities in information and communication technology. The review helps establish what each company does in practice: the products it develops, the services it provides and the sources of its revenue.
The review raised questions about some companies’ documentation. Some earned revenue from activities outside the approved list. Others did not provide sufficient evidence linking their revenue to their declared IT activities. In certain cases, priority activities accounted for less than 10% of a company’s total revenue. Some participants also failed to submit audit reports.
Following further assessment, three companies had their Astana Hub participant status revoked. Each case was reviewed individually. The decisions were based on non-compliance with the terms of participation or failure to submit mandatory reports. These decisions help ensure that the same rules apply to all companies.
The first year of reviews also highlighted the importance of clearly describing business operations in the documentation. A report should make clear how much revenue a company earned, which activities generated it and what evidence supports those figures.
For the 2026 reporting year, participants are advised to disclose total revenue, revenue from priority activities and the share of total revenue attributable to those activities separately. Revenue from any other activities should also be reported separately.
These figures should be accompanied by explanations identifying the clients and contracts that generated the revenue, as well as the work performed, services provided or digital products sold. Supporting evidence includes contracts, work or service acceptance certificates, electronic tax invoices, commercial invoices and other source documents.
For example, a company that develops custom software is advised to identify the client, the contract and the scope of services provided. A company that generates revenue from a digital product should describe the product and specify the basis of its right to earn revenue from it. Participants are also advised to explain their revenue model, whether through licence sales, subscriptions, access to a service, implementation, maintenance or technical support. Further details are available in the guidelines for preparing audit documentation.
Participants should take the new requirements into account when preparing their 2026 reports. Previously, all revenue had to come from priority activities. Under the revised requirements, these activities must generate at least 90% of total annual revenue, while other activities may account for no more than 10%. Participants are advised to state separately in their reports whether they meet this requirement.
The annual revenue threshold above which a company must submit an audit report and/or opinion has also changed. In the first review cycle, the threshold was KZT 100 million. Under the revised Rules, it is 300,000 monthly calculation indices (MCI). Participants whose revenue exceeds this threshold must submit the documents annually by 20 July, together with their mandatory second-quarter report.
Astana Hub will continue to provide clarification for participants and refine its guidance on report content. The aim is to make document preparation clearer for companies and focus the review process on the matters that determine compliance with the terms of participation.
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