Speaking at a panel titled “Tax Administration, Tax Justice and Reform” at TOBB Economics and Technology University, organized by the Turkish Strategic, Social and Economic Research Foundation (VAKIF 2000), Şimşek stressed the importance of not creating incentives by pardoning tax obligations, adding that “even though we currently need the agreement of a qualified majority within the ministry to pardon tax debts, I still think this isn’t enough. Maybe we need to add it to the Constitution under the unchangeable articles that tax pardons will not be given.”
Şimşek continued by noting that to increase adherence to tax laws, there need to be heftier punishments for tax fraud, noting that they’ve increased the time in prison for tax fraud from one year to one-and-a-half years and that it would no longer be possible to pay only a fine.
The minister also spoke about his position on tax fraud, saying that he didn’t view it as a financial offense but rather a “crime against public order.” Şimşek continued: “Tax fraud is a crime against public order because it leads to budget deficits, public debt, the weakening of the Turkish economy and other problems for the Turkey. … This is my perspective on the issue, and thus I view tax fraud as something that needs a heavier punishment.” On this note, the minister added that they have taken the first steps to solve the issue of tax fraud but that more is needed to completely solve the problem. He added that the punishment for tax fraud should be more onerous, which will help curb any incentives to commit tax fraud that may exist.
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