ISTANBUL, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- Türkiye introduced a new tax regulation on overseas e-commerce purchases, aiming to support local businesses and protect domestic industries.
According to the presidential decree published in the Official Gazette on Tuesday, the new regulation now applies to goods ordered from abroad valued up to 30 euros (about 31.65 U.S. dollars), down from the previous limit of 150 euros.
The new regulation means that even small-value purchases from abroad will be taxed, leading to increased costs for consumers.
The tax rate on products from European Union (EU) countries has increased from 18 percent to 30 percent, while the rate for those from non-EU countries has risen from 30 percent to 60 percent.
Additionally, if the goods fall under the category specified in the Special Consumption Tax Law, an extra fixed tax of 20 percent will be applied.
According to the Turkish newspaper Haberturk Daily, in the first six months of 2024, the number of online purchases made from abroad increased by 17 percent, while the total value of these transactions surged by 95 percent compared to the previous year. ■
