Source: The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

Legal Notice: The information in this article is intended for information purposes only. It is not intended for professional information purposes specific to a person or an institution. Every institution has different requirements because of its own circumstances even though they bear a resemblance to each other. Consequently, it is your interest to consult on an expert before taking a decision based on information stated in this article and putting into practice. Neither MuhasebeNews nor related person or institutions are not responsible for any damages or losses that might occur in consequence of the use of the information in this article by private or formal, real or legal person and institutions.

The province with the highest proportion of young population was Hakkari
According to the results of ABPRS, Hakkari had the highest proportion of young population with 25.5% in 2016. Hakkari was followed by Şırnak with 23.9% and Siirt with 23.1%. The provinces with the lowest proportion of young population were Muğla with 13.2%, Balıkesir with 13.5% and Sinop with 13.7%, respectively.

The proportions of young population by first 5 provinces, 2016

Net schooling ratio in higher education for females was 42.6%
In Turkey, net schooling ratio in higher education in 2014/’15 educational year was 39.5%, this ratio increased to 40.9% in 2015/’16 educational year. While this ratio for males increased from 38% to 39.2%, for females it increased from 41.1% to 42.6%.

The rate of young people in neither education nor employment was 24%
According to the results of household labor force survey, the rate of young people in neither education nor employment was 24% in 2016. This rate was 14.6% for young males and 33.5% for young females.

While unemployment rate was 18.5% for young people in 2015, it was 19.6% in 2016. This rate was 17.4% for young males and 23.7% for young females in 2016. Unemployment rate of young males increased by 0.9 points, unemployment rate of young females showed an increase of 1.5 points compared to the previous year.

51.1% of employed young people took part in service sector
Employment rate of young people was 34.1% in 2016 with decreasing 0.1 points compared to 2015. 17.6% of employed young people were involved in agricultural sector, 31.3% of them were in industrial sector and 51.1% was in service sector.

Deaths due to external causes of injury and poisoning was higher in young people
According to the results of causes of death statistics, when the causes of death of the individuals aged 15 and over was analyzed; it was seen that the external causes of injury and poisoning constituted 4.3% of deaths, in 2016. While the proportion of deaths for young people was 50.5% due to external causes of injury and poisoning, this proportion was 57.3% for young males and 31.8% for young females.

While the proportion of deaths due to benign and malignant tumors in young people was 12.1%, this proportion was 10.2% for young males and 17.4% for young females.

Four out of every five young people used Internet
According to the results of information and communication technology usage survey in households, the proportion of Internet usage for young people at the age group of 16-24 increased to 87.5% in 2016 while this proportion was 82.4% in 2015. While this proportion for young males was 94.2% in 2016 with an increase of 4.8 points, this proportion was 80.7% for young females with an increase of 5.2 points compared to the previous year.

65.1% of young people mentioned that they were happy
According to the results of life satisfaction survey: the proportion of young people at the age group of 18-24 who mentioned that they were happy was 65.1% in 2016, while it was 63.8% in 2015. This proportion for young males was 60% while it was 70.2% for young females.

63.6% of young people were satisfied with the education they received
According to the results of life satisfaction survey; in 2016, 63.6% of the young people declared that they were satisfied from the education they received up to now. 64.2% of the young males were satisfied from the education they received while 63% of young females were satisfied from the education they received.

Young people considered job satisfaction more important than income
According to the results of life satisfaction survey; in 2016, 78.7% of the young people were satisfied from the job, while 51% of them were satisfied from their income. For young males, the proportion of satisfaction from job was 77% and the satisfaction from the income was 51.5%, while for young females these proportions were 82.4% and 50%.

Health was the first source of happiness of young people
According to the results of life satisfaction survey; in 2016, health was the first value as a source of happiness of young people with 54.6%. This was followed by love with 20% and success with 15.4%. While the first value as a source of happiness for young males and females did not change, in the second order, it was success for young males with 17.7% and love for young females with 24.1%. Love took place in the third order as a source of happiness for young males with 15.8% while success took place in the third order as a source of happiness for young females with 13.2%.

Young females married with arranged marriage while young males with their own decision
According to the results of family structure survey, 2016; while 43.3% of the young people aged 15-24 married with arranged marriage and their own consent, 36.8% married with their own decision with approval of their family. It was seen that 13.6% of the young people married with eloping/abduction.

While 45.3% of young males and 35.3% of young females married with their own decision with approval of their family, 33.4% of young males and 45% of young females married with arranged marriage and their own consent.

While 51% of young people met their spouses by family and relative network, this proportion was 45.5% for young males and 52% for young females. The proportion of young people who met their spouses through the Internet was 3%. This proportion was 5.7% for young males, and 2.6% for young females.

Parents had problems with young people mostly about smoking
According to the results of family structure survey, 2016; parents declared that smoking was the most common problem with their children between the ages of 18-25 and living in the same household, with 16%. While mothers had problems with their children about smoking with 18.3%, fathers had problems with 13.2% on this subject.

It was stated that the biggest problems among the parents and young people after the smoking were choice of friends with 15.4%, use of mobile phone and style of clothing with 14.4%.

42.9% of young people agreed with persons from different religious sect would marry 
According to the results of family structure survey, 2016; when the thoughts of individuals aged 15 and over about marriage were analyzed, while 36.6% of the individuals agreed with persons from different sectarian people would marry each other, this proportion was 42.9% for young people. 46.1% of young males and 39.6% of young females agreed with persons from different sectarian people would marry each other.

Most important feature sought by young people in their future spouse was being a reliable person
According to the results of family structure survey, 2016; when personal and social qualifications sought by young people in their future spouse were examined, it was seen that 98.5% of young people considered important that the person to be married was a reliable person/not lying. 98.1% of the young people declared that it was important for the person to be married to be loyal to their partner and 97.7% considered that to be patient and tolerant was important.

It was seen that 48.6% of the young people did not care about having a similar political view with the person to be married. 41.6% of the young people declared that it was not a matter that the person to be married had a high income level/wealth and 41% stated that they did not care about being with the same social circle with the person to be married.

95.5% of the young people considered cheating of the females as precise reason for divorce
According to the results of family structure survey, 2016; when the situations considered as precise reason for divorce were examined by age groups, it was seen that 95.5% of the young people declared the most important divorce reason as females’ cheating their husband even for once. 93.8% of the young people declared that males’ cheating their wife even for once was the second most important reason for divorce. It was declared that males’ maltreatment towards their wife (beating, insulting etc.) was considered as the third most important reason by young people with 89.6%.

Failing to have a baby by wife and husband was not considered important as precise reason for divorce by young people. While only 6.2% of the young people declared that males’ failing to have a baby was precise reason, 6.8% declared that females’ failing to have a baby was precise reason for divorce.

Legal Notice: The information in this article is intended for information purposes only. It is not intended for professional information purposes specific to a person or an institution. Every institution has different requirements because of its own circumstances even though they bear a resemblance to each other. Consequently, it is your interest to consult on an expert before taking a decision based on information stated in this article and putting into practice. Neither MuhasebeNews nor related person or institutions are not responsible for any damages or losses that might occur in consequence of the use of the information in this article by private or formal, real or legal person and institutions.

Source: Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges

Legal Notice: The information in this article is intended for information purposes only. It is not intended for professional information purposes specific to a person or an institution. Every institution has different requirements because of its own circumstances even though they bear a resemblance to each other. Consequently, it is your interest to consult on an expert before taking a decision based on information stated in this article and putting into practice. Neither MuhasebeNews nor related person or institutions are not responsible for any damages or losses that might occur in consequence of the use of the information in this article by private or formal, real or legal person and institutions.

Female life expectancy at birth is 80.7 years
According to life tables, 2015 results; life expectancy at birth is 78 years at total, 75.3 years for males and 80.7 years for females. In general, females live longer than males and the difference in life expectancy at birth is 5.4 years.

Illiterate female population is 5 times more than illiterate male population
In Turkey, while the proportion of total illiterate population in 25 and over age groups is 5.4%, this proportion is 1.8% for male population and 9% for female population in 2015.

While the proportion of high school and equivalent graduates in 25 and over age groups is 19.5%, this proportion is 23.5% for males and 15.6% for females. The proportion of total higher education graduates is 15.5%, this proportion is 17.9% for males and 13.1% for females.

Selected indicators by sex, 2015 

Female employment rate was less than half of male employment rate
According to household labor force survey results; in Turkey the employment rate of population aged 15 and over was 46%; this rate was 65% for males and 27.5% for females in 2015.

When the employment rates in member countries of the European Union were analyzed, it was seen that Sweden had the highest employment rate for females with 74% and Greece had the lowest employment rate for females with 42.5% in 2015. The average employment rate for females in European Union countries (28 countries) was 60.4%.

In member countries of the European Union, Netherlands had the highest employment rate for males with 79% and Greece had the lowest employment rate for males with 59.3% in 2015. The average employment rate for males in European Union countries was 70.8%.

Labor force participation rate of educated females is higher
According to household labor force survey results; in Turkey, labor force participation rate of population aged 15 and over was 51.3%, this rate was 71.6% for males and 31.5% for females in 2015.

When labor force participation rate by education status was investigated, it was seen that the higher education status of females, females participated more to labor force. The labor force participation rate was 16.1% for illiterate females, 26.6% for females who graduated from school less than high school, 32.7% for females who graduated from high school, 40.8% for females who graduated from vocational high school and 71.6% for females who graduated from higher education.

Every 4 out of 5 males found it appropriate for females to work
According to family structure survey, 2016 results; the proportion of individuals who approved females’ working was totally 84.9%, the proportion of males who approved it was 78.1% and the proportion of females who approved females’ working was 91.5%.

When the proportions of individuals who approved females’ working was analyzed by Statistical Regions (SR) Level 1, the highest proportion was in TR3 Aegean (İzmir, Aydın, Denizli, Muğla, Manisa, Afyonkarahisar, Kütahya, Uşak) with 90.6% and the lowest was in TRC South East Anatolia (Gaziantep, Adıyaman, Kilis, Şanlıurfa, Diyarbakır, Mardin, Batman, Şırnak, Siirt) with 71.5%.

Females who graduated from higher education earned more income
According to income and living conditions survey results; while working females who graduated from higher education had average annual main job income as 29 thousand 238 TL, working females who graduated from high school had average annual main job income as 16 thousand 124 TL in 2015. Females who didn’t complete any school had average annual main job income as 8 thousand 528 TL.

34.3% of the first marriages was realized between the ages of 20-24 in females
According to family structure survey, 2016 results; when the first marriage ages declared in the survey by individuals aged 15 and older and who experienced marriage was analysed, it was seen that first marriages mostly took place between the ages of 20-24 with 37.5% in Turkey. While the proportion of males who married for the first time in the 20-24 age group was 41.3%, this proportion was 34.3% for females.

In the case of conflict, spouses reacted with shouting to each other mostly
According to family structure survey, 2016 results; in the case of conflict between the spouses, 75.3% of males and 66.2% of females reacted with shouting/raising their voices to their spouses mostly. 55.1% of males and 64.2% of females remained silent in the case of conflict. 3.6% of males and 2.4% of females used physical violence to their spouses when they were in conflict.

According to Statistical Regions (SR) Level 1, the highest proportion of using physical violence to spouses was highest in TRC South East Anatolia (Gaziantep, Adıyaman, Kilis, Şanlıurfa, Diyarbakır, Mardin, Batman, Şırnak, Siirt). In this region 8.6% of males, 7.5% of females used physical violence to their spouses.

The proportion of males’ using physical violence was lowest in TR3 Aegean (İzmir, Aydın, Denizli, Muğla, Manisa, Afyonkarahisar, Kütahya, Uşak) with 1.7%, this proportion for females was lowest in TR4 East Marmara (Bursa, Eskişehir, Bilecik, Kocaeli, Sakarya, Düzce, Bolu, Yalova) with 0.7%.

Household chores and responsibilities were shared with paying regard to sex
According to family structure survey, 2016 results; it was observed that while females did continuous house works like cooking, dishwashing, laundering, cleaning the house and ironing, males did works which had apparency and definite beginning and ending like repairing, painting the house, paying the bills.

Throughout Turkey, cooking was done by females with the proportion of 91.2%, by males with 8.8%. Painting the house was done by males with the proportion of 80.4%, this proportion was 19.6% for females.

Married males and females are happier
According to life satisfaction survey results; the proportion of individuals who declared themselves as happy was 61.3% in 2016. While the level of happiness was 58.1% for males, it was 64.5% for females. It was seen that 64.7% of married individuals, 57.3% of individuals who never married, 50.9% of widowed individuals and 32.5% of divorced individuals were happy.

60.8% of married males, 68.3% of married females declared themselves as happy. While 54.5% of males who never married and 62.1% of females who never married were happy, 29% of divorced males and 35.5% of divorced females were happy. It was seen that 53.1% of widowed males and 50.5% of widowed females were happy.

Level of happiness by marital status, 2016

About 4 out of every 10 females felt insecure in their own neighborhood
According to life satisfaction survey results; while the proportion of the individuals who felt insecure when they were walking alone at night in their own neighborhood was 26.2% totally, this proportion was 15.2% for males and 37% for females in 2016. 71% of males and 47.5% of females felt themselves secure in their own neighborhood.

The proportion of the individuals who felt insecure when they were alone at home was 7.9% in total, this proportion was 4.5% for males, 11.2% for females. 86.7% of males, 76% of females felt themselves secure when they were alone at home in 2016.

Deaths caused by diseases of the circulatory system took first place
According to causes of death statistics results; among the causes of death cases in 2015, diseases of the circulatory system were in the first place with 40.3%, neoplasms were in the second order with 20% and diseases of the respiratory system were in the third order with 11.1%.

When the causes of death cases were examined by sex, for females diseases of the circulatory system were in the first place with 44.3%, neoplasms were in the second order with 15.5% and diseases of the respiratory system were in the third order with 10.1%. For males the sequence of the death causes is similar with the females, diseases of the circulatory system were in the first place with 36.8%, neoplasms were in the second order with 23.9% and diseases of the respiratory system were in the third order with 11.9%.

Females participated less in political life than males
While the proportion of female deputies was 4.5% in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey in 1935, this proportion has increased to 14.7% after 81 years. The total number of ministers in 2016 in Turkey is 27 and the number of female ministers is only 1. While the proportion of female mayors in local governments was 0.9% in 2009 local elections, this proportion was 2.9% in 2014 local elections. While the proportion of female head of quarters was 2.3% in 2009 local elections, this proportion was 2% in 2014 local elections.

Legal Notice: The information in this article is intended for information purposes only. It is not intended for professional information purposes specific to a person or an institution. Every institution has different requirements because of its own circumstances even though they bear a resemblance to each other. Consequently, it is your interest to consult on an expert before taking a decision based on information stated in this article and putting into practice. Neither MuhasebeNews nor related person or institutions are not responsible for any damages or losses that might occur in consequence of the use of the information in this article by private or formal, real or legal person and institutions.

Amongst the primary objectives of the new investment incentives scheme are:

• reduce the current account deficit;
• boost investment support for lesser developed regions;
• increase the level of support instruments;
• promote clustering activities; and
• to support investments that will create the transfer of technology.

Effective as of January 1, 2012, the new investment incentives system has been comprised of four different schemes. Local and foreign investors have equal access to:
1. General Investment Incentives Scheme
2. Regional Investment Incentives Scheme
3. Large-Scale Investment Incentives Scheme
4. Strategic Investment Incentives Scheme

The support instruments to be provided within the framework of the various investment incentives schemes are shown in the following table:

*Provided that the investment is made in Region 6.
**Provided that the investment is made in Regions 3, 4, 5 or 6 within the framework of the Regional Investment Incentives Scheme.
***For construction expenditures of strategic investments with a minimum fixed investment amount of TRY 500 million.

1- General Investment Incentives Scheme
Regardless of the region where investment takes place; all projects meeting both the specific capacity conditions and the minimum fixed investment amount are supported within the framework of the General Investment Incentives Scheme. Some types of investments are excluded from the investment incentives system and would not benefit from this scheme.
The minimum fixed investment amount is TRY 1 million in Region 1 and 2, and TRY 500,000 in Region 3, 4, 5 and 6.

Major investment incentive instruments are:

1) Exemption from customs duties:
Customs tax exemption for imported machinery and equipment f

2) VAT exemption:
VAT exemption for imported or domestically purchased machinery and equipment for projects with an investment incentive certificate.

2- Regional Investment Incentives Scheme
The sectors to be supported in each region are determined in accordance with regional potential and the scale of the local economy, while the intensity of support varies depending on the level of development in the region.

The minimum fixed investment amount is defined separately for each sector and region with the lowest amount being TRY 1 million for Region 1 and 2, and TRY 500,000 for the remaining regions.

The terms and rates of support provided within the Regional Investment Incentives Scheme are shown in the following table.

*OIZ: Organized Industrial Zones

The new investment incentives system defines certain investment areas as “priority” and offers them the regional support extended to Region 5 by the Regional Investment Incentives Scheme, regardless of the region of the investment. If the fixed investment amount in priority investments is TRY 1 billion or more, tax reduction will be applied by adding 10 points on top of the “rate of contribution to investment” available in Region 5. If priority investments are made in Region 6, the regional incentives available for this particular region shall apply.

Fields of investment with specific priorities to be supported with Region 5 instruments regardless of the investment’s region are:

• Tourism accommodation investments in Cultural and Tourism Preservation and Development Regions and investments that could benefit from regional incentives with regard to thermal tourism
• Mine extraction and/or processing investments
• Mining exploration investments to be made in the licensed areas by investors with a valid Exploration License or Certificate issued pursuant to the Mining Law
• Railroad and maritime freight or passenger transportation investments
• Investments in the defense industry to be made with respect to the project approval received from the Under secretariat for Defense Industry
• Test centers, wind tunnels, and similar investments made for the automotive, aerospace or defense industries
• Investments made by the private sector for kindergartens and day-care centers, as well as preschools, primary, elementary, and high schools
• International trade fair investments with a minimum indoor area of 50,000 square meters (excluding accommodation and shopping center units)
• Investments for the manufacturing of products or parts developed by an R&D project that is supported by the Ministry of Science, Industry and Technology, TUBITAK or KOSGEB
• Investments in the motor vehicles main industry worth a minimum amount of TRY 300 million, engine investments worth a minimum amount of TRY 75 million, and investments for motor engine parts, transmission components/parts and automotive electronics worth a minimum amount of TRY 20 million
• Investments for power generation where metals stated in the 4-b group of Article 2 of the current Mining Law No. 3213 within the scope of a valid mining license and permit issued by the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources are used as inputs
• Investments for energy efficiency projects which are to be carried out at existing manufacturing industry facilities with minimum 500 TEP (ton equivalent petroleum) annual energy consumption, which would provide minimum 20% energy savings compared to the current situation, and with 5 years or less return on investment as a result of energy savings
• Investments for electricity generation through waste heat recovery in a facility (excluding natural gas-fired electricity generation plants)
• Liquefied natural gas (LNG) investments and underground gas storage investments with a minimum amount of TRY 50 million
• Investments for the production of carbon fiber or composite materials made ​​from carbon fiber provided that it takes place along with carbon fiber production
• Investments for the production of items in high-tech industry segment stipulated in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s (OECD) definition for technology intensity
• Priority investments with a minimum fixed investment amount of more than TRY 3 billion are considered to be strategic investments. Yet, the amount of interest support for these investments cannot exceed TRY 700,000.
• Investments for the production of turbines and generators used in renewable energy generation, as well as investments for the production of blades used in wind energy generation
• Integrated investments to produce aluminum flat products by hot rolling and direct chill casting techniques

Furthermore, together with the amendment to the incentives legislation on October 5, 2016, investments for the production of items in medium high-tech industry segment stipulated in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s (OECD) definition for technology intensity will be able to benefit from the instruments of Region 4 regardless of the location of the investment.

The investment subjects in question are as follows:

• Painting substances not classified elsewhere (NCE); inorganic products used as luminophore
• Sulphites and sulphates
• Phosphinates, phosphonates, phosphates and polyphosphates, nitrates
• Manufacture of other organic main chemical substances
• Manufacture of chemical fertilizers and nitrous compounds
• Manufacture of synthetic rubber and plastic raw materials
• Manufacture of glue and gelatin
• Modeling pastes; dentist’s wax, plaster-based preparations used in dentistry, fillers and compounds for fire extinguishers; prepared culture media used for the cultivation of microorganisms; not classified elsewhere (NCE) mixed reagents for laboratory or diagnostics use
• Doped chemical elements for use in electronics such as disks, scales etc.
• The preparations used in cleaning of metal surfaces; vulcanization accelerator substances; not classified elsewhere (NCE) plasticizer and stabilizer compounds for rubber and plastics; not classified elsewhere (NCE) reaction initiators, accelerators, catalysts; not classified elsewhere (NCE) alkalibenzene and alkalinaphtalene mixtures
• Manufacture of internal combustion engines and turbines (excluding aircraft, motorized vehicle and motorcycle engines)
• Manufacture of pumps and compressors
• Manufacture of bearings, gears, gear sets and drive mechanisms
• Manufacture of industrial furnaces, kiln and furnace ignitors
• Manufacture of hoisting and handling equipment
• Manufacture of other general purpose machinery
• Manufacture of agricultural and forestry machinery
• Manufacture of machine tools
• Manufacture of metallurgy machinery
• Manufacture of mining, quarry and construction machinery
• Manufacture of food, beverage and tobacco processing machinery
• Manufacture of machinery used in textile, garments and leather processing
• Manufacture of weaponry and ammunition (excluding hunting rifles and ammunition, components and accessories for hunting rifles)
• Manufacture of other specialty machinery
• Manufacture of not classified elsewhere (NCE) household appliances
• Manufacture of electrical motors, generators and transformers
• Manufacture of power distribution and control devices
• Lead-acid accumulators for starter-piston engines
• Nickel-cadmium, nickel-iron and other electrical accumulators
• Manufacture of not classified elsewhere (NCE) electrical equipment
• Manufacture of motorized land vehicles
• Manufacture of railroad and trolley engines and cars
• Manufacture of motorcycles
• Manufacture of vehicles for the disabled

3- Large-Scale Investment Incentives Scheme
12 investment subjects, which will potentially foster Turkey’s technology, R&D capacity and competitiveness, are supported by Large-Scale Investment Incentives Scheme instruments.

The terms and rates of support provided within the Large-Scale Investment Incentives Scheme are shown in the following table.

*OIZ: Organized Industrial Zones

The following categories of investment within the Regional and Large-Scale Investment Incentives Schemes can benefit from support granted to a one-grade lower region in terms of tax reduction and social security premium support (employer’s share).

• Investments in Organized Industrial Zones (OIZ)
• Joint investments to be made by at least five companies operating in the same sector with the purpose of greater integration

E.g.: A Region 3-level investment in an OIZ can take advantage of the tax reduction level in Region 4. Similarly, a Region 6-level investment may benefit from an additional 5% contribution to the investment.

4- Strategic Investment Incentives Scheme
Investments meeting the criteria below are supported within the framework of the Strategic Investment Incentives Scheme:

• The domestic production capacity for the product to be manufactured with the investment shall be less than the import of the product.
• The investment shall have a minimum investment amount of TRY 50 million.
• The investment shall create a minimum added-value of 40% (this condition is not applicable to refinery and petrochemicals investments).
• The total import value of the product to be manufactured with the investment shall be minimum of USD 50 million as of the past one year (excluding products that are not locally produced).

The terms and rates of support provided within the Strategic Investment Incentives Scheme are shown in the following table.

*Provided that it will not exceed 5 percent of the investment amount

Support Instruments
VAT Exemption:
VAT is exempt for imported and/or domestically delivered machinery and equipment within the scope of the investment incentive certificate.

Customs Duty Exemption:
Customs duty is exempt for imported machinery and equipment within the scope of the investment incentive certificate.

Tax Reduction:
The income or corporate tax is calculated on basis of reduced rates until the total amount of reduced tax reaches the amount of contribution to the investment. The rate of contribution to investment refers to the rate of the total fixed investment amount that is subject to tax reduction.

Social Security Premium Support (Employee’s Share):
For additional employment created by the investment, the employee’s share of the social security premium calculated on basis of the legal minimum wage will be covered by the government. The instrument is applicable only to investments made in Region 6 within the scope of the investment incentive certificate. There is no upper limit for Social Security Premium Support and it is applicable for 10 years.

Social Security Premium Support (Employer’s Share):
For additional employment created by the investment, the employer’s share of the social security premium calculated on basis of the legal minimum wage will be covered by the government.

Income Tax Withholding Allowance:
The income tax with regard to additional employment created by the investment, within the scope of the investment incentive certificate, will not be liable to withholding taxes. The instrument is applicable only to investments made in Region 6 within the scope of the investment incentive certificate. There is no upper limit for income tax withholding allowance and it is applicable for 10 years.

Interest Rate Support:
Interest rate support is a financial support instrument provided for investment loans with a term of at least one year obtained within the scope of an investment incentive certificate. A portion of the interest/profit share regarding the loan equivalent, at most 70 percent of the fixed investment amount registered in the investment incentive certificate, will be covered by the government.

Land Allocation:
Land may be allocated for investments, with an investment incentive certificate, in accordance with the rules and principles set by the Ministry of Finance, depending on the availability of such land.

VAT Refund:
VAT collected on construction expenses, made within the scope of strategic investments with a minimum fixed investment amount of TRY 500 million, will be rebated.

R&D Incentives
1. R&D Law
The R&D Law provides special incentives for R&D and design investment projects in Turkey provided that a minimum of 30 personnel are employed in an R&D center. This personnel requirement may be reduced to 15 employees in sectors determined by the Council of Ministers to be a priority, such as software, medicine and medical devices, agriculture, food, biotechnology, ICT, and other high-tech sectors. The incentives within the new law will remain in effect until 2024 and include:

• 100 percent deduction of R&D expenditure from the tax base
• Half of the R&D and design expenditure increase incurred in the operational year compared to the previous year will be deductible (criteria will be determined by Council of Ministers)
• Income withholding tax exemption for employees (until December 31, 2023.)
• 50 percent social security premium exemption for employers (until December 31, 2023)
• Stamp duty exemption for applicable documents
• Customs duty exemption for imported products within the scope of R&D projects
• Techno-initiative capital for new scientists up to TRY 500,000
• Deduction from the tax base of certain funds granted by public bodies and international organizations

2- Support for Technology Development Zones
The advantages in Technology Development Zones are:

• Profits derived from software development, R&D, and design activities are exempt from income and corporate taxes until December 31, 2023.
• Sales of application software produced exclusively in TDZs are exempt from VAT until December 31, 2023. Examples include software for systems management, data management, business applications, and different business sectors, the internet, mobile phones, and military command control.
• Wages of R&D, design, and support personnel employed in the zone are exempt from all taxes until December 31, 2023. The number of the support personnel covered by the exemption shall not exceed 10 percent of the number of the R&D personnel.
• Investments for the production of the technological products obtained as a result of the R&D projects conducted in the zone may be made in the TDZ if deemed suitable by the operator company and allowed by the Ministry.
• 50 percent of the employer’s share of the social security premium will be paid by the government until December 31, 2023.
• Customs duty exemption for imported products and stamp duty exemption for applicable documents within the scope of R&D, design, and software development projects.

3- Industrial Thesis (SANTEZ) Program
Direct financial support for new technology adaptation, process development, quality improvement, and environmental modification projects to be achieved via university partnerships:

• Up to 85 percent of the project budget could be supported by direct grants
• Project term is 2 years, with a possible extension of 6 months
• Expenditure on staff, travel, consumable materials, machinery equipment, consultancy, and relevant service procurements, transportation, insurance, and customs are supported
• The application file could be approved within 4 months, and the project supervision committee is independent

4- TUBITAK Support
TUBITAK (Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey) compensates or grants R&D related expenses and capital loans for R&D projects.
Projects eligible for TUBITAK incentives:

• Concept development
• Technological research and technical feasibility research
• Laboratory studies in the translation of a concept into a design
• Design and sketching studies
• Prototype production
• Construction of pilot facilities
• Test production
• Patent and license studies
• Activities concerning the removal of post-sale problems arising from product design

TUBITAK 1515 – Frontier R&D Laboratory Support Program:
The 1515 Program applies an integrated perspective that extends beyond a consideration of the initial establishment phase of the R&D laboratory. The 1515 Program offers an entirely grant-based financial model to cover up to 75 percent of the operating expenses of the R&D laboratory in Turkey up to TRY 10 million for each calendar year for duration of 10 years at most.

The coverage of the grant support consists of the following items:

• Personnel costs
• General operating costs
• Consultancy fees

For eligibility to have personnel costs covered in the total grant amount, at least 50 percent of the personnel must hold Turkish citizenship and at least 1/3 should have a doctoral degree.

5- TTGV Loans
The Technology Development Foundation of Turkey (TTGV) offers long-term interest-free loans for R&D projects on agriculture technologies, health technologies, education technologies, and energy efficiency improvement.

The loans are intended to provide financial support to those activities whose purpose is the development of new products with commercial value in the aforementioned technological areas, or for the promotion of competitiveness of current products in these areas.

The scope of the program includes:

• The duration of project support is at least 1 year and is at most 3 years.
• The upper and lower limits for the amount of support to be provided are USD 3 million and USD 250,000, respectively.
• Support shall be provided 50 percent by TTGV and 50 percent by the project coordinating company’s contribution.
• The pay-back term is 4 years in total after project execution, including a one-year grace period.

Export Support
Inward Processing Regime
The aim of the Inward Processing Regime is to enable exporters to procure inputs at world market prices for the production of their exports without being subject to customs duties, including VAT, as well as trade policy measures.

The Inward Processing Regime includes two types of processing measures:

• Conditional Exemption System and
• Reimbursement System.

1.The Conditional Exemption System waives commercial policy measures and taxes that arise during the importation of non-freely circulating raw materials, auxiliary materials, packages, and operating equipment used in production of the export product subject to Inward Processing Regime. It is called conditional as the exporter has to guarantee through collateralization of the imported materials and equipment that they will only be used for the production and exportation of the product subject to Inward Processing Regime. The guarantee given for the collateralized materials and equipment will be released upon exporting of the final product.
2.The Reimbursement System is the reimbursement of taxes that were paid during the importation of freely circulating raw materials, auxiliary materials, packages, and operating equipment used for the production of the exported product subject to Inward Processing Regime. These taxes are reimbursed upon the exporting of the final product subject to Inward Processing Regime. Commercial policy measures are applied to the imported materials and equipment and all the import procedures such as technical regulations in foreign trade and standardization legislation must have been completed.

Evaluation of Applications

• It should be possible to determine whether the imported raw materials are used to produce exported products.
• The activity should not have a negative impact on the economic interests of the producers in the customs territory.
• Activities should create added-value and the final product should not have a negative impact of the competitiveness in the sector.
• The company should be built in the customs territory in Turkey.

Benefits of Inward Processing Regime

• 100 percent Customs Duty Refund
• 100 percent  VAT Refund
• 100 percent Special Consumption Tax Refund
• 100 percent Resource Utilization Support Fund Refund
• 100 percent Stamp Tax Refund
• Exemption from quotas and surveillance measures: There are import quotas determined by the government for a number of goods, and Inward Processing Regime certificate holders will not be affected by these quotas. The government also determines market prices for some products and imposes excise taxes to these products based on the determined market price, irrespective of the price paid by the importer. Participants in the Inward Processing Regime would also be exempt from such surveillance measures.
• It is permitted for domestic sales and delivery

Sectoral Incentives
Incentives for Renewable Energy
In addition to the General, Regional, Priority, and Strategic Investment Incentive schemes that apply to investments in the energy sector, the government provides specific incentives for electricity production investments that are based on renewable energy sources.

• 100 percent exemption from Customs Duty and VAT
• Feed-in-Tariff (FiT) scheme for 10 yearsa.Differentiated FiT scheme based on resource type
  b.Extra premiums for domestic components

• Grid connection priorities
• Lower license feesa.Only 1 percent of licensing fee
  b.Exemption from the annual license fee for the first eight years of operation

• License exemptions in exceptional circumstances
• Various practical conveniences in project preparation and land acquisition

 Date: 13 March 2017

Legal Notice: The information in this article is intended for information purposes only. It is not intended for professional information purposes specific to a person or an institution. Every institution has different requirements because of its own circumstances even though they bear a resemblance to each other. Consequently, it is your interest to consult on an expert before taking a decision based on information stated in this article and putting into practice. Neither MuhasebeNews nor related person or institutions are not responsible for any damages or losses that might occur in consequence of the use of the information in this article by private or formal, real or legal person and institutions.