According to the government's recently issued decree, a stamp tax will be placed on all devices containing a radio or television transmitter, be they television sets, mobile devices with television and radio receivers, 3G devices or automobiles. In the past, banderol fees were placed only on television and radio receivers in the product.
The move to introduce the tax was precipitated in part to help balance TRT's budget in the aftermath of the economic crisis, which caused rapidly plummeting advertising revenues and a simultaneous increase in the cost of new programs.
"TRT is a broadcasting company, not a monopoly and has the same functions as other broadcasting companies. It also earns advertising revenues, like the others. While the other TV channels are running on their revenues from advertisements, TRT is operating with obligatory taxes from even those who never watch or don't want to watch its programs," he said.
In his written explanation on Monday, Çetin indicated that the revenues of TRT are determined in the second article of the Turkey Radio and Television Revenues Law, and that this law doesn't stipulate the taxation of devices that have TV or radio features included. He argued that the Cabinet's recent decision is devoid of a legal base since it is essentially taxing a product which is not under the mandate of the TRT. “Taxes are determined by law,” he said “and illegal and unlawful tax collection authority has not been given to the government.”
Prior to the introduction of the latest stamp tax, TRT received a portion of a tax based on the cost of the radio receiver associated with a product. But now, the cost will be on 8 percent of the cost of the product. Critics say that this will impact a range of goods ranging from automotives to electronics.
Industry and Trade Minister Nihat Ergün responded to criticism of the tax last week, saying that such measures were a necessity to balance the public balance sheet.
