14.03.2025 13:40
The Ministry of Finance has gone into the field for the tax declaration period and has started inspections in residential properties regarding rental income. Minister of Treasury and Finance Mehmet Şimşek stated, "Accurate declaration of earnings is important for ensuring tax fairness. We expect our taxpayers to show maximum sensitivity regarding tax compliance. I have assigned the managers of our Revenue Administration to visit all provinces."
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According to the Ministry of Treasury and Finance, annual income tax returns are submitted every March. The annual income tax returns related to commercial, agricultural, and freelance earnings, as well as rental income, wages, capital gains, and other earnings obtained in 2024 must be submitted by Wednesday, April 2.
Minister Şimşek provided an assessment on the subject to AA correspondent.
Emphasizing that the fight against unregistered economic activities will continue uninterrupted this year, Mehmet Şimşek stated, "We will use advanced analytical techniques to identify potential risks related to the relevant sectors and areas in order to prevent unregistered economic activities and ensure fairness in taxation. By increasing actual field tax audits, we will ensure that the perception of tax audits is established among taxpayers." he said.
"WE ARE USING THE 'INVITATION TO EXPLANATION' INTENSIVELY"
Şimşek noted that they have started to use the "invitation to explanation" mechanism intensively, and continued:
"We are inviting taxpayers who are considered to cause tax loss to explain themselves one by one. The declaration period for the 2024 earnings has begun. Accurately declaring the earnings obtained is also important for ensuring tax fairness. We expect our taxpayers to show maximum sensitivity regarding tax compliance. I have assigned the managers of our Revenue Administration to visit all provinces. Our colleagues have met with civil society organizations, explaining the importance of making accurate declarations and our determination to combat unregistered activities."
ACTUAL INSPECTION IN RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES
Last year, the Revenue Administration (GİB) received approximately 1.8 million tax returns from rental income, wages, capital gains, and other earnings, and expects this number to exceed 2 million this year with the ongoing efforts.
In order to identify taxpayers who need to declare rental income in 2024, the administration analyzed approximately 1.5 million residential properties and conducted actual inspections in 425,000 of them. As a result, 376,000 new taxpayers were enabled to submit tax returns.
With the "Rental Notification Form" obtained from the Digital Tax Office, tenants voluntarily filled out 38,000 forms. According to these, it was found that there were 20,000 taxpayers who did not submit rental tax returns, and legal action was taken. Thus, there was a 26% increase in the number of taxpayers submitting returns in 2024 compared to the previous year.
INVESTIGATION FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT DECLARE RENTAL INCOME AT ITS TRUE VALUE
With the tax returns submitted by these taxpayers, a total of 399.2 billion lira was declared as the tax base, which is a 107% increase compared to the previous year, and 126.9 billion lira was calculated as tax, reflecting a 101% increase.
The study enabled nearly 55,000 taxpayers to submit rental tax returns for previous years. With these returns, 3.1 billion lira of rental income was declared. The administration will continue similar efforts this year. In this context, an investigation process will be initiated for those who do not declare rental income at its true value. With the steps taken, 3.7 million income tax returns were received in 2023, and 4.4 million are expected in 2024. The administration aims to exceed the number of 4.4 million returns this year as well.
SMS REMINDER TO TAXPAYERS
The administration sent SMS messages to 1.5 million people, informing them that they need to submit tax returns due to their income subject to income tax.
In this context, SMS messages were sent to those who earn rental income above the exemption limit, those who earn more than 3 million lira in wages from a single employer, those who have obtained income from capital gains due to real estate transactions within the last 5 years, and those who have obtained capital gains from dividend sources.
The administration also reminded 2.9 million taxpayers who are still income tax taxpayers about the declaration period via SMS.
"INVITATION TO VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE"
Minister Mehmet Şimşek used the following expressions in a message he published on social media regarding the issue:
Invitation to voluntary compliance! We are increasing tax compliance through advanced analytical techniques, field audits, and the invitation to explanation mechanism in line with the principle of fairness in taxation.
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