Accounting outsourcing in Kazakhstan

Outsourcing accounting services in Kazakhstan is not about a “remote accountant with a flash drive”. It is the systematic transfer of functions to a professional outsourcing (accounting) company that is responsible for:

• bookkeeping for an LLP
• tax and financial accounting
• filing reports
• dealing with the tax authorities
• support during audits
• advice on day-to-day matters

In essence, the company gets an accountant for its LLP, but in reality it gets a whole team: an accountant, a tax specialist and often an outsourced chief accountant.

The reason is simple: an in-house accountant is a risk. One person falls ill, goes on holiday, quits or makes a mistake. Meanwhile, liability for fines and additional tax assessments always remains with the business.
An outsourced accountant solves several problems at once:

• no dependence on a single employee
• liability is fixed in the contract
• lower payroll, tax and workplace costs
• access to expertise, not just “routine bookkeeping”

This is especially relevant for small and medium-sized businesses, as well as for companies with foreign founders.

Astana and Almaty are the key business centers of the Republic of Kazakhstan, home to a significant number of commercial organizations, including IT companies, trading businesses, service companies and start-ups. As a result, outsourcing of accounting services has become widespread as an efficient and manageable format for maintaining accounting and tax records.

At the same time, current practice shows that accounting support is not tied to where a company is located. The remote working format allows organizations from other regions of Kazakhstan to use outsourced accounting services without any loss in the quality of accounting, the level of control or compliance with deadlines.

Accounting outsourcing is especially beneficial if:

• you have an LLP with a small or medium turnover
• there is no complex production
• transparency and predictability of costs matter to you
• you do not want to keep an in-house accountant
• the business is growing and becoming more complex

In many cases, outsourcing accounting services in Kazakhstan costs less than keeping a single accountant on staff, while the level of control and expertise is higher.

A separate category of services is an outsourced chief accountant. In this format, the company gets not only bookkeeping but also:

• control of tax risks
• analysis of transactions
• participation in audits
• advice on business structure
• support for complex transactions

This format is particularly in demand among companies that are VAT-registered, engaged in foreign economic activity or working with foreign counterparties.

It is important to understand that accounting outsourcing is not about the lowest price. The most problematic cases arise when accounting outsourcing in Kazakhstan is chosen solely on the basis of cost.
Typical mistakes:

• no liability agreement
• purely formal bookkeeping
• ignoring tax risks
• no support during audits

A good outsourcing company is not just a contractor but a business partner.