Mehmet Şimşek denies VAT hike: 'We are taking measures'

Earlier today, the Revenue Administration announced on behalf of the Ministry of Treasury and Finance that there would be an increase in VAT rates for restaurants and cafes.

The following statements were included in the announcement in question.

"Within the framework of the authority granted in Article 2 of the Council of Ministers Decree (BKK) No. 2007/13033, which determines the VAT rates applied to goods and services, the following paragraphs have been added after the fourth paragraph of the (III/B-2.4.1) section of the General Application Communiqué on Value Added Tax, published in the Official Gazette dated 26/4/2014 and numbered 28983, regarding the application of VAT rates in places where food and beverages are served, within the scope of the 24th row of the (II) numbered list attached to the said BKK. Furthermore, the phrase 'as of 1/1/2008' in the first paragraph of the same section has been repealed, and the phrases '(%8)' in the (III/B-2.4) section of the Communiqué have been changed to '(%10)', and the phrases '(%18)' have been changed to '(%20)'."

MINISTER ŞİMŞEK SAID 'WE DID NOT INCREASE'

After the news of the hike was reported in many places, a correction statement came from Minister Şimşek.

Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek stated regarding the announcement made by the Revenue Administration, which suggested that the Ministry of Treasury and Finance was preparing for a VAT hike in restaurants and cafes, that they had not increased VAT rates, but were taking measures to prevent abuses.

Quoting the 'X' post made by Anadolu Agency (AA) regarding the VAT hike, Şimşek shared the post: "We have not increased VAT rates! We are taking measures to prevent abuses."