Minister Şimşek issues warning to businesses not accepting card payments

Minister of Finance Mehmet Şimşek emphasized that many practices have been implemented to combat the informal economy. In this context, he reminded that POS devices, which allow tradespeople and businesses operating in the retail sector to accept payments via bank cards, have been integrated with cash registers that issue receipts.

Şimşek stated that the new generation of cash registers developed with this regulation prevents sales from remaining unregistered by presenting the slip and receipt as a single document for payments made with bank cards.

Furthermore, noting that they have been working on the issue because some taxpayers still use old-generation devices and do not accept credit cards for payments, Şimşek emphasized that with a communiqué published at the end of last year, they made it mandatory for all taxpayers to acquire new-generation cash registers by July 1, 2024, and to accept payments via bank card or credit card through these devices.

"Special irregularity penalties are being issued"

Regarding the new regulation, Şimşek said:

"Now, all tradespeople and businesses providing retail goods and services must use new-generation cash registers and must offer the option to pay by bank card or credit card. In the audits conducted by the Revenue Administration (GİB), special irregularity penalties are being issued to taxpayers who do not acquire new-generation cash registers or who do not offer the option to pay by bank card or credit card for their collections. We see that some businesses demand higher amounts compared to cash payments, citing high bank commission rates as a reason. It is important that our taxpayers do not resort to demanding the commission difference from citizens for this reason."

However, pointing out that the difference demanded at this point can be far above bank commission rates, Şimşek said that commission rates can vary between banks and that the time it takes to receive the collected amount from the bank can also affect this rate.

News Source: 12punto