Minister Şimşek announces! Critical decision for the earthquake zone

Minister Şimşek announced that they have extended the force majeure status for earthquake victims. However, only small and medium-sized enterprises were kept within the scope. Large taxpayers must request debt deferral through individual applications.

The force majeure status for small and medium-sized enterprises, which account for 80 percent of taxpayers in cities affected by the February 6, 2023, Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquakes, has been extended until May 31.

Minister of Treasury and Finance Mehmet Şimşek made a statement regarding the force majeure status in the earthquake-stricken cities.

According to information obtained from the Ministry, the force majeure status has been extended for certain taxpayers in Adıyaman, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, and Malatya, as well as the İslahiye and Nurdağı districts of Gaziantep, which were affected by the earthquakes that occurred in Kahramanmaraş on February 6, 2023.

Using his authority on this matter, Şimşek decided to extend the force majeure status until May 31 for those among the aforementioned taxpayers whose turnover as of the end of 2022 was below 2.5 million liras.

It had previously been accepted that those who had tax registration as of February 6, 2023, in the places affected by the earthquakes were in a state of force majeure in terms of tax law implementation.

Drawing attention to the opportunities provided to taxpayers who do not fall within the scope, Şimşek noted the following:

"The force majeure status for taxpayers with a turnover exceeding 2.5 million liras ended as of November 30, 2024. Taxpayers who state that they have been affected by the earthquake to such an extent that they cannot fulfill their tax obligations and that the force majeure status continues for them may submit individual requests with the necessary documents to the tax offices they are affiliated with. The situations of these taxpayers will be evaluated separately."