Minister Şimşek Responds to Tax Audit and Small Business Claims

Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek responded with statistical data to claims that tax audits are concentrated only on small businesses. Şimşek stated that as of 2026, the audit rate in large companies rose to 31.3 percent, while it dropped to 1.1 percent in small companies.

Audit Rates Explained with Figures

Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek shared clear figures against claims that tax audits are concentrated in small-scale firms and communicated the distribution of audit rates to the public.

Change in Large and Small Companies

According to the released data, while the audit rate in large companies rose to the level of 31.3 percent in 2026, this rate declined to the level of 1.1 percent in small companies.

Medium-Term Program Press Conference

The evaluations were made during a special press conference held following the public announcement of the Medium-Term Program covering the 2027-2029 period.

Voluntary Compliance and Fight Against the Informal Economy

It was emphasized that voluntary compliance, rather than direct punishment methods, is adopted as the basis in the efforts to combat the informal economy, and the policy is built upon this foundation.

Triple Increase in Large Companies

It was stated that the audit rate applied in large-scale companies increased approximately threefold compared to the period in 2024, whereas it decreased in small companies.

Number of Tax Returns and Tax Targets

Drawing particular attention to the increase in the number of personal income tax returns, Şimşek noted that they expect the ratio of tax revenues to national income to reach 17.9 percent in 2027.

Decline in the Share of Indirect Taxes

It was projected that the share of indirect taxes within total tax revenues was 65.5 percent in 2023, and this rate could fall below the 60 percent threshold in 2026.