A new tax has been introduced on mobile phones in 2020: whether manufactured in Turkey or imported, mobile phones are now subject to an additional levy. According to the announcement published in the Official Gazette, a new 1% deduction tax will be applied to mobile phones. The Official Gazette states that this 1% tax collected from mobile phones will be transferred to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Importers are obliged to pay the 1% mobile phone tax into the account of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
The decision was published today in the Official Gazette under the title “Decision on Determining Deduction Rates for Technical Devices Used for Reproducing Intellectual and Artistic Works and for the Manufacture or Import of Blank Carrier Materials”.
The 1% Mobile Phone Tax Will Be Transferred to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism
The 1% additional tax applicable to mobile phones has been set out in the Official Gazette. The extra deduction rate of 1% applies to mobile phones identified by their Customs Tariff Statistical Position (GTIP) number. Under the decision, the goods subject to this tax are defined as: telephone devices (including phones for cellular networks or other wireless networks), and other devices designed to receive or transmit sound, images or other data (including devices for communications over wired or wireless networks).
Manufacturers and importers of mobile phones are responsible for paying the 1% amount based on the manufacturing or import value into the account of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. They must ensure that the deducted amount is transferred in accordance with the regulations specified in the Official Gazette.
This measure aims to channel a small percentage of revenue from mobile phone production and importation to support cultural and tourism activities overseen by the Ministry. The obligation covers all relevant devices classified under the specified GTIP codes, and compliance will be monitored through standard customs and tax procedures.