Turkish tax amnesty package narrowed after criticism by finance minister

ANKARA

The removal came hours after Finance Minister Şimşek’s speech, who said he supported his party’s bill, but he was personally against such implementations. AA Photo

Tax payables and fines have been removed from the list of items that would see amnesty as part of a draft omnibus bill, following criticism by the finance minister on June 30.

The initial amount of taxes that would be restructured within the scope of the omnibus code stands at around 67 billion Turkish Liras, said Turkish Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek earlier June 30. Şimşek added that a portion of the 23.5 billion was from VAT, while 17.6 billion liras came from income taxes. 

The draft was strongly criticized as it tends to violate the rights of those who paid their taxes on time.

The removal came hours after Şimşek’s speech, who said he supported his party’s bill, but he was personally against such implementations.

“I have to back this as a lawmaker of the party. But I do not find such implementations positive,” Şimşek said, while responding to questions at Parliament’s Planning and Budget Commission, a step taken before the bill is voted on by the deputies.

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has submitted a bill that calls for exemptions and remissions on several tax fees.

“In principle, I think there shouldn’t be such practices … There are studies that show such implementations break the harmony in taxes,” Şimşek said, adding it could also harm the sense of justice in the public.