What are the main steps in transfer pricing rules in Uzbekistan under the double tax treaty network?

Uzbekistan's transfer pricing regime obliges foreign investors and their local affiliates to document that related-party transactions reflect arm's-length pricing — and Uzbekistan's double tax treaty network, which covers most of its principal trading and investment partners including Russia, adds a further layer of compliance: treaty provisions on associated enterprises generally align with, and in some cases reinforce, the domestic arm's-length standard. For in-house counsel managing a Uzbekistan subsidiary or a cross-border supply chain routed through Uzbekistan, understanding the main procedural steps is the practical starting point.

The legal foundation sits within Uzbekistan's tax legislation, which establishes transfer pricing controls applicable to transactions between related parties where one or both parties are either non-residents or benefit from preferential tax treatment. The arm's-length principle is the core standard: prices must correspond to what independent parties would agree under comparable circumstances. Uzbekistan's double tax treaties — modelled broadly on the OECD framework in their associated-enterprise articles — operate in parallel: where a treaty partner's tax authority makes a primary transfer pricing adjustment, the corresponding adjustment mechanism under the relevant treaty provides a route (not always straightforward in practice) to avoid double taxation on the same income.

The main compliance steps in practice are as follows.

• Identify controlled transactions. Map all cross-border transactions with related parties — intercompany loans, royalties, management fees, and goods supplied between affiliates are the most common categories requiring review under Uzbekistan's transfer pricing rules.

• Select a comparability method. Uzbekistan's transfer pricing framework recognises methods broadly consistent with internationally accepted approaches: comparable uncontrolled price, resale price, cost-plus, and transactional profit methods. The appropriate method depends on the transaction type and the availability of reliable comparable data.

• Prepare and maintain transfer pricing documentation. Documentation must demonstrate that the chosen method produces an arm's-length result. In practice, this means a functional analysis, a comparability analysis, and a description of the transaction and pricing policy. Uzbekistan's tax authority expects this documentation to be available — and producible on request — at the time of filing.

• File the required disclosures. Related-party transaction information is reported as part of the annual tax return. Failure to disclose, or filing with materially incorrect pricing, exposes the company to adjustment and penalties under Uzbekistan's tax rules.

• Apply treaty protections where a dispute arises. Where Uzbekistan's tax authority proposes a transfer pricing adjustment and the counterpart jurisdiction is a treaty partner, the mutual agreement procedure available under the applicable double tax treaty is the mechanism for seeking relief from resulting double taxation. Timelines and procedural requirements vary by treaty; initiating MAP promptly after a proposed adjustment is critical.

For foreign companies with cross-border structures touching Uzbekistan — whether in the context of Uzbekistan–Russia transactions or inbound investment from European or Asian jurisdictions — transfer pricing compliance is not a formality. Uzbekistan's tax authority has increased its scrutiny of intercompany pricing in recent years, and documentation gaps are the most common audit trigger.

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— Nodira Yusupova Contributing Regional Analyst — Uzbekistan, Vetrov & Partners vetrovpartners.com/contributions/

Nodira Yusupova advises on Uzbekistan tax law and foreign investment regulation, with a focus on inbound structuring, transfer pricing compliance, and the application of Uzbekistan's double tax treaty network to cross-border transactions.

Vetrov & Partners coordinates Uzbekistan-related advice through its network of regional counsel. For Russian-law elements of cross-border structures involving Uzbekistan, the firm's own team advises directly. We are a Russian-qualified law firm. For matters governed by foreign law or requiring local admission in another jurisdiction, we collaborate with trusted counsel in the relevant jurisdiction. Enquiries: info@vetrovpartners.com | t.me/vitvetcom

For more on the firm's Uzbekistan practice, see Uzbekistan — Tax (/jurisdictions/uzbekistan/tax/) or the broader Uzbekistan Practice Hub (/jurisdictions/uzbekistan/).

This publication is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice under Russian or any other applicable law. The information herein should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional legal counsel tailored to your specific circumstances. Vetrov & Partners is a Russian-qualified law firm. For matters governed by foreign law or requiring local admission in another jurisdiction, we collaborate with trusted counsel in the relevant jurisdiction. For advice regarding your particular situation, please contact info@vetrovpartners.com.