Flash decision for mobile phones brought from abroad!
A limit has been imposed on mobile phones brought from abroad. According to the new regulation, it is now prohibited to bring a second phone into the country, even if customs duties are paid. The second phone will be confiscated at customs.
AA
The Ministry of Trade has made changes to the implementation in order to prevent tax losses and evasion regarding the entry of mobile phones brought in excess of the exemption limit.
In a statement made by the Ministry, it was noted that the scope of items allowed to be brought into the country by passengers is regulated under the Decision on the Implementation of Certain Articles of the Customs Law, and it was recalled that "GSM-mobile phones" are also included in this list.
The statement pointed out that, excluding members of foreign missions, one mobile phone can be brought in every three calendar years, provided that it is used with lines registered to the passenger's identification number, and it was emphasized that this mobile phone can be released into free circulation as personal effects accompanying the passenger, exempt from customs duties.
The statement underlined that, other than this, it is not possible to bring in mobile phones as gift items accompanying a passenger or via mail/express cargo, even by paying the taxes, and continued as follows:
"In the implementation of the decision, necessary measures have been taken to prevent potential tax losses and evasion by ensuring that mobile phones brought by passengers as accompanying items, contrary to their declarations and outside the exemption limit, are not registered to the national network on behalf of the person bringing them or third parties, even if double customs duties are collected and the item is delivered to the owner. Regional Directorates have been instructed to report the personal details and IMEI numbers of phones exceeding the 1-unit exemption limit to the Information and Communication Technologies Authority."
PHONES EXCEEDING THE EXEMPTION LIMIT CAN BE HELD AT CUSTOMS FOR 3 MONTHS
The statement emphasized that there is no change in the practice of granting an exemption for only one mobile phone in the status of personal effects brought by a passenger, and it was announced that the practice of delivering a second mobile phone, which is intended to be brought into the country as a gift item accompanying a passenger or in a manner contrary to the declaration, by paying its fixed taxes, has been abolished because its use could not be prevented as it was not IMEI registered.
In the statement, the following information was shared: "However, if the passenger wishes to retrieve the mobile phone brought in excess of the exemption limit upon their departure from the country, it is possible for the phone to be held in customs warehouses for the 3-month period specified in the Customs Law and to be returned to the passenger when they leave the country again within that period."