Turkey: Amendments to VAT communique published
The Turkish Official Gazette issued Communique No. 52, introducing amendments to the VAT General Application Communique No. 28983/2014. The new communique clarifies several VAT-related provisions.
It specifies that goods and services associated with the manufacture of sea vessels not used for cargo transport and with a hull length exceeding 24 meters are exempt from VAT. Additionally, it states that VAT refund requests under 50,000 Turkish lira (US$1,458) do not require a tax audit report, CPA report, or guarantee.
The communique explains how VAT paid on imports and delivered goods and services can be deducted. It also clarifies the exemption for services provided at airports and ports for air and sea transport vehicles, excluding those used for activities like travel and entertainment, and details the related declaration and refund procedures.
Furthermore, a temporary exemption is introduced, effective until December 31, 2025, for the delivery of construction goods and services to specified nonresident state institutions or organizations in disaster areas.
Source: Turkish Official Gazette
VAT/GST rates 2024 in Asia
| Country | Standard VAT/GST Rate | Reduced Rates |
| Armenia | The standard VAT rate is 20%. | |
| Azerbaijan | The standard VAT rate is 18%. | |
| Bahrain | From January 1, 2022, the standard VAT rate is 10%. | |
| Bangladesh | The standard VAT rate is 15%. | 10%, 7.5%, 5%, 2,4%, 2% |
| Brunei | There is no VAT in Brunei. | |
| China | The standard VAT rate is 13%, 9%, 6% | Reduced rates of 5%, 2%, 3%, 1.5% and 0.5%. |
| UAE | VAT is charged at 5% in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) | |
| Georgia | The standard VAT rate is 18% | |
| Hong Kong | There is no VAT or sales tax in Hong Kong. | |
| India | The primary rates of Indian GST are 0.25%, 1.5%, 3%, 5%, 12%, 18% and 28% | |
| Indonesia | The standard VAT rate is 11% | |
| Iraq | There is no VAT in Iraq. (The standard sales tax ranges from 10% to 300% on alcohol & tobacco) | |
| Israel | The standard VAT rate is 17% | |
| Japan | The standard (Consumption Tax) rate is 10% | 8% |
| Kazakhstan | The standard rate of VAT is 12% | |
| South Korea | The standard VAT rate is 10% | |
| Kuwait | There is no VAT in Kuwait | |
| Laos | The standard VAT rate is 10% | |
| Lebanon | The standard VAT rate is 11% | |
| Malaysia | On September 1, 2018, the Government of Malaysia replaced the Goods and Services Tax (GST) with a 10% Sales Tax (The standard rate of service tax is 8%) | 5% (Sales Tax), 6% |
| Oman | the standard VAT rate in Oman is 5% | |
| Pakistan | Pakistan does not have VAT. The standard sales tax rate is 18% | Pakistan has a large number of reduced sales tax rates, including 1%, 2%, 5%, 10% and 12% (among others). |
| Philippines | The standard VAT rate is 12% | |
| Qatar | There is no VAT in Qatar | |
| Russia | The standard VAT rate is 20% | 10% |
| Saudi Arabia | VAT is charged at 15% | |
| Singapore | The standard Goods and Services Tax (GST) rate is 9% | |
| Sri Lanka | The standard VAT rate is 18% | |
| Taiwan | The standard VAT rate is 5% | |
| Tajikistan | The standard VAT rate is 14% | 10%, 7%, 5% |
| Thailand | The standard VAT rate is 7% (Reduced from the standard 10% until 30 September 2024) | |
| Turkey | The standard VAT rate is 20% | 10%, 1% |
| Uzbekistan | The standard VAT rate is 12% | |
| Vietnam | The standard VAT rate is 8% | Reduced VAT rate is 5% |