Minimum wage earners tax champions

ISTANBUL - Radikal

The top 100 wealthiest Turks had a total wealth of 92.3 billion Turkish Liras in 2011, but only paid 530.5 million Turkish Liras in income tax, according to data released by the Istanbul Chamber of Certified Public Accountants (İSMMMO).

Ironically, while the wealthiest 100 Turkish citizens paid only 5.7 percent income tax as a percentage of their total wealth, Turkey’s minimum wage earners paid three times this amount at 15 percent of their total earnings or three times as much, according to daily Radikal. In fact, the top 100 wealthiest Turks rarely make it on the record tax payers list, according to figures released by the finance ministry.

President of İSMMO Yahya Arıkan told daily Radikal that the income tax system in Turkey was not fair and that unfair tax distribution was one of Turkey’s “chronic problems.” He also added that the rich should be taxed more and the poor should be taxed less, like in other countries.