Official Gazette Review: February 17 – March 2, 2025

I am sharing a summary of developments published in the Official Gazette over the last two weeks, between February 17 and March 2, 2025.

The Ministry of Industry and Technology has published the Regulation on Amending the Regulation on the Manufacturing, Modification, and Assembly of Vehicles. Accordingly, vehicle tracking systems, camera systems with specified technical features, and image recording devices may now be installed in M1, M2, and M3 class passenger transport vehicles.

Law No. 7540 on the Justice Academy of Turkey has been adopted by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM). According to the law, the academy will plan training for judge and prosecutor candidates as well as sitting judges and prosecutors, and judges/prosecutors who have completed 8 years in the profession will be eligible to serve as faculty members.

The Communiqué on Amending the General Communiqué on Value Added Tax (VAT) Implementation (Series No: 54) issued by the Ministry of Treasury and Finance (Revenue Administration) has entered into force. Activities such as individual courses, training, data processing and development, and product promotion provided over the internet and similar electronic environments have been exempted from VAT.

The Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change has published the Communiqué on the TS 825 Standard for Thermal Insulation Rules in Buildings (Communiqué No: MHGM-2025/1). Accordingly, Turkey will now be evaluated based on 6 thermal zones instead of 4, and insulation thicknesses will be applied according to these zones.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has published the Communiqué on Supporting Agriculture-Based Investments within the Scope of Rural Development Supports (Communiqué No: 2024/43). The upper limits for grant-eligible project amounts in relevant areas have been increased, and poultry meat production has been included in the scope of support. The number of priority agriculture-based specialized organized industrial zones has been increased.

Changes made to the MASAK (Financial Crimes Investigation Board) legislation by the Ministry of Treasury and Finance on December 25, 2024, entered into force as of February 25, 2025. Within this scope, it has become mandatory to provide information identifying the sender for crypto asset transfers exceeding 15,000 TL.

The Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BDDK) has changed the monetary amounts regarding general maturity limitations for consumer loans. The maturity has been set at thirty-six months for loans of 125,000 TL and below, twenty-four months for loans between 125,000 TL and 250,000 TL, and twelve months for loans exceeding 250,000 TL.

The Revenue Administration has published a tax guide for rental income taxation in 2024. Those who exceed the exemption amount of 33,000 TL for the 2024 calendar year (47,000 TL for the 2025 calendar year), those whose gross amount of workplace rental income subject to withholding tax exceeds the 230,000 TL declaration threshold for the 2024 calendar year (330,000 TL for the 2025 calendar year), and those whose income obtained within a calendar year that is not subject to withholding or exemption exceeds the 13,000 TL declaration threshold for the 2024 calendar year (18,000 TL for the 2025 calendar year) are required to file an annual tax return. In the case of rental income from more than one residence, the exemption will be applied once to the total rental income. If a residence is jointly owned by more than one person, the exemption amount will be applied separately for each owner. The first installment of income tax for the 2024 calendar year will be paid on 02.04.2025, and the second installment on 31.07.2025.

The Revenue Administration has published the life and personal insurance premiums that can be deducted from the income tax base. Accordingly, half of the premiums paid for life insurance for the taxpayer, their spouse, and minor children, and the entirety of personal insurance premiums such as death, accident, illness, health, and disability, can be deducted from the income tax base.