Smartphones may soon become noticeably more expensive in Azerbaijan as lawmakers move forward with new tax and customs rules scheduled to take effect in 2026.
Proposed amendments to the Tax Code and the Law on State Duty – already approved in the first reading of the Milli Majlis – introduce two major financial obligations for importers and consumers.
Under the draft legislation, legal entities importing smartphones for commercial purposes will be required to pay a 20-manat excise tax on every device.
In addition, individuals bringing more than one mobile phone into the country for personal use within a calendar year will face a 100-manat state duty for registering each additional device, regardless of its market value.
Economists warn that the combined effect of these changes will almost certainly push retail prices upward.
Speaking to Bizim.Media, Akif Nasirli, head of the Center for Liberal Economists, said the price increase is virtually inevitable.
“There are two main drivers here,” he explained. “First is the economic factor: higher duties and taxes raise the cost base for importers, and that translates into higher prices for consumers. Second is the psychological factor: the mere expectation of price hikes often prompts sellers to raise prices in advance.”
Nasirli believes that if the new rules officially take effect in January, some retailers may begin adjusting their prices within days, anticipating higher operational costs.
He notes that the impact will be most visible in the budget segment, where even modest tax changes significantly affect final retail prices.
“In general, increasing the excise tax and introducing a 100-manat registration fee per device will inevitably influence phone prices, particularly for lower-cost models,” Nasirli said.
