Uzbekistan’s top bloggers earn $222,000, pay $9,000 in taxes in 2025

Six of Uzbekistan’s top bloggers with a combined audience of more than 3mn subscribers earned a total of UZS 2.7bn ($222,000) in 2025 and paid UZS 110.4mn ($9,100) in taxes, according to figures presented during a meeting between bloggers and the country’s Tax Committee.

The Tax Committee said it had compiled a list of 110 of the country’s most active bloggers as part of a broader review of the sector.

According to the analysis, 55 bloggers are registered as self-employed individuals, while 33 operate as sole proprietors. The remaining 22 continue working under regular individual status.

Officials noted that the findings revealed a growing mismatch between the actual scale of blogger activity and their legal status. The committee stated that some bloggers continue using simplified forms of registration despite expanding revenues and business operations.

The six bloggers examined separately published a combined 360 stories and 184 advertising posts during 2025, averaging around five sponsored stories and promotional posts per month.

Based on official electronic invoices, the bloggers’ combined revenue reached UZS 2.7bn ($222,000).

During the meeting, Tax Committee representatives explained existing tax legislation governing advertising income earned through social media platforms and online promotions.

Officials also highlighted that self-employed status does not allow individuals to formally hire employees, although some bloggers were found to be working with administrators, assistants and other specialists.

Participants additionally discussed proposals to organize special training programs aimed at improving bloggers’ legal literacy, explaining tax obligations and formalizing income reporting procedures.

The committee stressed the importance of aligning blogger activity with tax legislation, increasing income transparency and strengthening legal regulation of the rapidly growing sector.

Earlier, Uzbekistan had announced plans to study Russia’s experience in introducing a unified tax account system. Authorities also said they were considering the introduction of a digital labelling system for online advertising and sponsored content published by bloggers.