New regulations on the technology development regions have been published with the Official Gazette numbered 31746 and dated 10.02.2022.

The amendments with regards to the employees working in technology development regions would be summarized as below:

The post-graduate durations would be considered during income tax incentive calculations

The VAT rate of the foodstuffs has been decreased from 8% to 1% with the Presidential decision published in the Official Gazette numbered 31749 and dated 13.02.2022.

The authorities have made amendments to the previously published VAT lists (20.12.2007 dated and 26742 numbered Official Gazette.) And the foodstuff list located under the VAT rate list of 8% has been transferred to the VAT rate list of 1%.

By the letter of Ministry of Treasury and Finance, General Directorate of Public Financial Management and Transformation dated 22.01.2022 and numbered 27998389 - 010.06.02 - 903792, the expense limits exempt from income tax for the period of January 1, 2022 – June 30, 2022 has been announced.

The Tax-Exempt Amounts of Domestic Travel Expenses

The tax-exempt amounts of domestic travel allowances for the period of January 1, 2022 and June 30, 2022 are as below.

The Turkish Revenue Administration has published a new Communiqué No. 319 regarding the wage/employment income.

The details of these amendments are as below:

The Scope and The Implementation of The Exemption

Per Article 4 of the Communiqué:

The income tax base calculated by deducting the social security premiums from the gross wage would be exempted from income tax.

The total amount and income tax brackets would be considered for the taxation of the wage amounts above the minimum wage.

The exemption amount cannot be higher than the income tax of the minimum wage on the related month.

If the employee receives a wage from more than one employer, the exemption would be applicable for the highest wage.

If there are any additional benefits other than the wage amount, the exemption would be applied to the total earning once, and the cumulative income tax base would be considered.

This exemption would also be applicable for the wage earnings of the board members, experts, official mediators, sports referees.

The minimum subsistence allowance is abolished and would not be applicable as of 01.01.2022.

The Turkish Revenue Administration would be responsible for determining and processing the disability income tax discounts. If the employee receives wage amount of minimum wage and thus would not pay any tax, the exemption would not be applicable for that employee. If the employee receives more than the minimum wage amount, the exemption would be applicable.