The owner and creative director of the Human House gallery, Lola Saifi, has publicly requested a review of the tax regime for the creative industry. She shared her appeal on her Facebook page.
The entrepreneur mentioned that she wrote a letter seeking assistance from the president's assistant, Saida Mirziyoyeva, highlighting her "active participation in the development of the creative industry in Uzbekistan." The gallery owner began by stating that developing the Human House project with her private funds is "very challenging," but she loves her work and refuses to give up. However, according to Saifi, she is currently feeling "disheartened."
In 2024, the turnover of Human House exceeded 1 billion sums, which also includes money from "more than 250 small artisans and craftsmen from all over Uzbekistan," she reported. Due to the fact that "it is difficult for ordinary creative people to handle paperwork," the gallery paid 4% of its turnover, including for the artisans.
"But now, due to the transition to VAT, my tax will increase by more than 10 times. I sat down and calculated several times. Such a tax will kill my business. The cost of handmade products is already too high, and there is not much profit. Moreover, we strive to keep prices affordable so that guests from all over the world can take a piece of our culture back to their countries," she wrote.
Lola Saifi, the creative director of Human House, requested a "more lenient tax regime" for the creative industry. As an initiative, she proposed to maintain the turnover tax at 4%, emphasizing her intention "to be one of the honest taxpayers."
If not, the obligation to pay 12% VAT, 15% profit tax, and the salary of an accountant, which "is not small right now," will "put her in a position where closing the gallery as a business becomes necessary," she shared.
"Please help find a solution for a simple Uzbek woman who wants to create and help others through her creativity," the owner of Human House appealed to Saida Mirziyoyeva.
In October, Spot spoke with Lola Saifi about the adoption of a law on the creative economy in Uzbekistan. She recommended forming working groups in the regions to work through every aspect of the law with them.
Earlier, Spot reported that benefits for companies in areas with challenging conditions would be reduced.