NAC holds training on behavioral approaches for the State Revenue Committee

On 27 August 2026, the National Analytical Centre (NAC) at Nazarbayev University conducted a training seminar on «Behavioral Approaches in Tax Administration» for staff of the State Revenue Committee of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The training focused on the potential of behavioral approaches to improve the effectiveness of tax administration and the interaction between the state and taxpayers.

During the training, participants were introduced to the key principles of behavioural public policy and explored how the way information is perceived, cognitive biases and behavioural barriers can influence taxpayers’ decisions. Particular attention was given to how communication design, simplified procedures and changes to the choice architecture can support more complete and timely compliance with tax obligations.

The seminar also covered international approaches and research findings in behavioural tax administration. International practice shows that behavioral design tools can complement conventional tax administration measures by making communications clearer and easing taxpayers' interaction with government agencies.

The prospects for applying behavioral tools in Kazakhstan were discussed separately: the country's high level of digitalization of tax and public services creates opportunities to pilot new formats of communication with taxpayers, evaluate their effectiveness and subsequently scale up the most successful solutions.

NAC also presented its own experience of applying behavioural approaches in practical projects. This approach involves a structured process of identifying behavioural barriers, developing solutions, testing them in real-world settings, and evaluating the results before deciding whether to scale up an intervention.

In an interactive format, participants examined current challenges facing the SRC and discussed possible behavioral barriers in interactions with taxpayers, as well as approaches to diagnosing them.

A dedicated session addressed the specific features and practical challenges of introducing behavioral tools in the public sector.

The training forms part of NAC's broader work to advance the practical application of evidence-based and behavioral approaches in public policy.