Experts warn: Attention to those paying via IBAN!

Some businesses are directing their customers to their bank accounts by providing an IBAN instead of accepting payments via credit or debit cards. In this way, businesses also avoid issuing receipts or invoices.

This increasingly common practice in recent times has certain drawbacks for both consumers and businesses.

"THEY ARE AVOIDING BANK COMMISSIONS AND TAXES"

Tuncay İnci, Chairman of the Board of Spectrum Audit, Consulting, and Sworn-in Financial Consultancy Inc., stated that some businesses direct their customers to their bank accounts by providing an IBAN, thereby attempting to avoid both bank commissions and taxes.

Pointing out that businesses provide a price advantage to their customers equal to the amount of unpaid tax, İnci said that businesses that pay their taxes are thus facing unfair competition.

Reminding that the Ministry of Treasury and Finance has launched an initiative targeting taxpayers who keep their earnings off the books, İnci said, "The Ministry will examine transfers coming to businesses and all accounts associated with the business via IBAN. The Ministry will also audit the accounts of business owners, their relatives, employees, and accounts used through leasing."

İnci stated that taxpayers deemed risky as a result of the examinations will be identified and explanations will be requested from these account holders.

Noting that the business must prove that it issued a receipt or invoice for that product along with the incoming money, İnci continued as follows:

"If the money flow in question cannot be proven with an invoice, the business will be subject to penalties. Furthermore, bank accounts obtained through leasing will also be examined within the framework of MASAK legislation in the context of actions containing criminal elements such as financing terrorism, money laundering, and illegal betting. The Ministry of Treasury and Finance will identify risky taxpayers, while audits and examinations will be carried out by tax office presidencies, the Tax Inspection Board, and provincial finance offices. MASAK will also be able to conduct investigations."

İnci stated that this situation is occurring in many sectors and that the businesses in question could face penalties, adding, "Income and corporate taxes, temporary taxes, and VAT assessments will be made over the earnings they kept off the books by not issuing invoices or similar documents, and late interest will be requested regarding these taxes. Additionally, a one-fold tax loss penalty and a special irregularity penalty will be imposed on the relevant parties."

"CARRIES A MAJOR RISK"

Levent Küçük, Chairman of the Consumers Association, also emphasized that citizens must have documents such as receipts and invoices in their possession in case they experience grievances due to the goods and services they purchase, stating, "Because our consumers have to prove which business they purchased the defective good or service from in their applications to consumer arbitration committees to protect their legal rights. In payments requested via IBAN, no receipt or invoice is given, and payments are directed to personal bank accounts. The recent increase in payments made via IBAN carries a major risk for consumers. Not knowing who the personal account number to which the payment is made belongs to can lead to legal grievances for citizens."

Drawing attention to the fact that it is not correct to purchase goods or services from a business and send the fee to a personal bank account, Küçük noted the following:

"If you are told 'you did not make the payment,' it is difficult to prove that you sent the fee. For this reason, you need to write which service the payment is for in the description section for fees sent via IBAN. In case of any dispute and the matter being taken to court, the description section serves as evidence for us. This situation should also be made mandatory by official institutions."