Finance Ministry now targets POS devices: Statement from Minister Şimşek

Minister of Treasury and Finance Mehmet Şimşek stated that as part of efforts to combat the informal economy, they have launched audits targeting individuals who did not record the revenue collected through POS devices, saying, "Our Revenue Administration has identified 3,662 individuals who did not record the revenue collected through POS devices. We have ensured that these individuals declared 5 billion liras in POS revenue."

Şimşek stated that they are expanding the steps they have taken to combat the informal economy.

Noting that the Revenue Administration has placed the issue of whether revenue generated from collections made via POS devices used in businesses is being declared on its agenda, Şimşek stated that they are auditing potential tax losses and evasion within this scope.

Pointing out that audits have been initiated regarding businesses that showed signs of causing tax loss and evasion based on analysis conducted by the Administration for the years 2021 and 2022, Şimşek shared the following information regarding the audit results:

"In the audit work, 2,320 individuals were addressed who had POS devices registered to them despite not being tax taxpayers, and who generated revenue through these devices. It was determined that these individuals generated a total of 3 billion liras in informal revenue and kept it outside the knowledge of the tax administration. It was also determined that 1,342 individuals who are taxpayers did not reflect, or under-reflected, a total of 2 billion liras in revenue generated through POS devices in their declarations. Thus, our Revenue Administration identified 3,662 individuals who did not record the revenue collected through POS devices. We have ensured that these individuals declared 5 billion liras in POS revenue."

"1.5 BILLION LIRAS IN TAX ACCRUED"

Stating that these individuals were invited by tax offices to provide explanations during this process, Şimşek said, "18,500 tax returns, including income tax, corporate tax, value-added tax, and withholding tax returns, were received from these individuals according to their tax liabilities for the years 2021 and 2022. In this way, the declaration of approximately 5 billion liras of informal POS revenue was ensured."

Şimşek indicated that 1.5 billion liras in taxes were accrued as a result of this work.

"THEY GENERATE POS REVENUE WITHOUT BEING TAXPAYERS"

Explaining that striking examples were encountered during the audit work, Şimşek said, "In the audits, 81 people were found who generated over 1 million liras in POS revenue without being tax taxpayers. It was seen that the revenue amount of these taxpayers in the relevant periods was approximately 253 million liras. It was determined that among these were individuals operating in various fields, primarily wholesale footwear, hardware materials, textile products, and white goods trade."

While stating that a similar study was conducted based on 2023 data, Minister Şimşek said, "Necessary actions will be taken based on the results obtained. Our fight against the informal economy will continue in an uncompromising and strong manner."