Turkey suspends tax payments for millions over coronavirus

Turkey has suspended tax payments for millions of people in the country, Treasury and Finance Minister Berat Albayrak said on March 24. "We have identified business sectors which fall under force majeure provisions," he said, adding that some 1.9 million taxpayers, who have income from agriculture and commence or who are self-employed, will also benefit from force majeure provisions.

Duvar English

Turkey has suspended tax payments for millions of people in the country, Treasury and Finance Minister Berat Albayrak said on March 24.

In a series of tweets, Albayrak listed the sectors that will benefit from force majeure provisions in tax processes within the scope of the Economic Stability Shield measures adopted against coronavirus (COVID-19).

"We have identified business sectors which fall under force majeure provisions," he said, adding that some 1.9 million taxpayers, who have income from agriculture and commence or who are self-employed, will also benefit from force majeure provisions.

"In April, May and June, we postpone payments for concise and VAT returns for 6 months. Concise and VAT declarations, which must be submitted in these months, will not be given. We postpone these statements until July 27," he said.

"On the other hand, after the circular of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the declaration and payments of our taxpayer citizens who could not go out because of being over 65 years old or having chronic illnesses were postponed until the end of the ban," Albayrak added.

As part of the measures, Retail Trade and Shopping Centers, Iron Steel and Metal Industry, Automotive, Logistics-Transportation, Cinema and Theatre Activities, Accommodation, Food and Beverage Services, Textile and Ready-to-Wear Activities, Events and Organizations, Health Services, Furniture Manufacturing, Mining and Quarrying, Construction, Industrial Kitchen Equipment, Car Rentals and Press and Printing are the business sectors that fall under force majeure provisions.