Mehmet Şimşek admits to cost of living crisis
Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek addressed the cost of living, expectations for tax amnesties, criticisms regarding corporate taxes, and claims about his health during his remarks at the TBMM Planning and Budget Committee.
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Speaking at the TBMM Planning and Budget Committee, Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek stated that they are aware of the increase in the cost of living in Turkey. Evaluating the current situation, Şimşek said, "It truly exists, and it would be a surprise if it didn't. There are difficulties all over the world, but of course, our program also has side effects; it would be wrong to say it doesn't exist now."
DOOR CLOSED ON TAX AMNESTY
Closing the door on expectations for a tax amnesty, Şimşek stated that such regulations negatively affect tax discipline and said the following:
"It is very clear that these tax amnesties—they are known as amnesties, that is why I am saying it, restructuring—disrupt tax compliance. Therefore, as a matter of principle, we want to do this: If a taxpayer truly presents their balance sheet and income statement to us and shows they are in difficulty, we are happy to provide installment plans. Thus, in this sense, restructuring is open to everyone in difficulty. We do not have a legal regulation on our agenda for this; that is, we do not find it right to have a regulation that is general in scope and rewards those who do not pay their taxes on time."
RESPONSE TO CORPORATE TAX CRITICISM
As reported by Cumhuriyet, addressing Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz's criticism of bureaucrats due to the decline in corporate tax, Şimşek stated that he accepts the assessment, saying, "I accept the criticism of our Vice President regarding the impact of inflation accounting, and I thank him. It can happen; we are not saying we are perfect in everything... Anyway, I take it upon myself; as the minister, I take it upon myself, I take the responsibility."
CLEAR STATEMENT ON HEALTH CLAIMS
Denying the claims of chronic illness made about him, Şimşek refuted the allegations with the words, "I currently have neither a chronic illness nor have I had any recent illness."
RESPONSE TO CLAIMS HE REQUESTED TO BE RELIEVED OF HIS DUTY
Şimşek also firmly rejected the claims that he wanted to leave his post, stating, "To this day, I have had no consideration other than serving my country, a public service as best I can during this difficult period, a perspective of mandatory military service."