Turkish Labor Law
The recent natural disasters in Turkey have not only damaged the environment and the community but also the businesses in the affected regions. It has been announced that workplaces will be facilitated by tax and SGK payments in the media and through the official channels of the government institutions. In our article, we will cover the arrangements planned for disaster areas as of August 9th.
Arrangements To Be Made by the Social Security Institution (SSI)
Due to the flood disaster in the Black Sea region, the payment date of the premium debts of the workplaces was changed. In the flood-affected districts of Artvin, Rize and Düzce provinces, the deadline for overdue premium debts and premium debts for the months (June to November 2021) has been postponed until 31.01.2022.
Due to the wildfires, certain regions of Antalya, Mersin, Muğla, Adana and Osmaniye provinces have been declared as disaster areas. The President’s office announced a regulation regarding the postponement of premium payments for employers affected by the wildfire. According to this statement, tradesmen and agricultural loan payments will be postponed. Businesses in the region will also be able to cover their losses by using KOSGEB Emergency Support Loan and Interest-Free Tradesman Loan.
Districts Declared as Disaster Areas:
- Antalya: Manavgat, Akseki, Alanya, Gündoğmuş, Gazipaşa – all neighborhoods affected by the fires
- Muğla: Marmaris, Bodrum, Milas, Köyceğiz and Seydikemer – all neighborhoods affected by the fires
- Mersin: Aydıncık and Silifke – all neighborhoods affected by the fires
- Osmaniye: Merkez and Kadirli – all neighborhoods affected by the fires
- Adana: Aladağ, İmamoğlu, Karaisalı and Kozan – all neighborhoods affected by the fires
Official announcements will soon be made on the details on the above-mentioned SSI premium deferral for fire zones by the relevant Ministry.
Arrangements To Be Made by the Ministry of Treasury and Finance
The Ministry of Treasury and Finance published an announcement regarding the regions of the wildfire, and declared some districts in the scope of force majeure. The date on which force majeure is valid has been determined as the period from the start of the wildfire to November 1, 2021 (including this date).
Within the scope and the date range of force majeure;
- Deadline to submit tax returns and notifications,
- Payment periods of taxes accrued on these declarations and notifications,
- The payment period of any tax, penalty and delay interest, which coincides with the period declared as force majeure, the payment period accrued before the wildfire date,
- Payment period of all kinds of taxes, penalties and delay interest, which are completed before the wildfire date, ex officio or levied by the administration and whose due dates coincide after the start of the force majeure, and
- 2nd installment payment period of 2021 motor vehicle tax
has been extended.
These declarations and notifications, which must be submitted within the date range of force majeure, can be submitted until the end of Tuesday, November 16, 2021. The taxes accrued from declarations, notifications and the obligations listed above can be paid until the end of Tuesday, November 30, 2021.
Provinces, Districts and Towns Covered by Force Majeure:
- Antalya: Manavgat, Akseki, Alanya, Gündoğmuş, Gazipaşa and İbradı districts
- Muğla: Marmaris, Bodrum, Milas, Köyceğiz, Seydikemer and Kavaklıdere districts
- Mersin: Aydıncık and Silifke districts
- Osmaniye: Center and Kadirli districts
- Adana: Aladağ, İmamoğlu, Karaisalı and Kozan districts
The second provisional tax return for 2021, which must be submitted during the period determined within the scope of force majeure, will not be submitted.
Tax debts of taxpayers in places evaluated within the scope of force majeure can be paid in installments up to 24 months without interest. Employers meeting these conditions must apply by the end of Thursday, December 16, 2021.
