The details of the regulation for cell phones brought from abroad have become clear. According to the regulation made by the Ministry of Trade in order to prevent tax losses and evasion, the practice of delivering the second mobile phones, which are intended to be brought into the country as souvenirs or with passengers in violation of the declaration, by paying the lump sum taxes has been abolished.
The Ministry of Trade took an important decision regarding cell phones brought from abroad. In order to prevent tax losses and evasion, a change was made in the practice regarding the entry of excess exempt cell phones into the country.
In the statement made by the Ministry, it was stated that the goods to be brought into the country with passengers are regulated within the scope of the Decision on the Implementation of Some Articles of the Customs Law. In the statement, it was reminded that “GSM-mobile phone” is also included in this list.
Cell phones can be brought in once every three years
It was stated that mobile phones, except for members of foreign missions, are allowed to be brought one in three calendar years, provided that they are used with lines registered to the identity number of the passenger. It was emphasized that these phones can be put into free circulation exempt from customs duties in the status of personal goods accompanying passengers.
In the statement, it was stated that it is not possible to bring mobile phones as souvenirs or through mail / fast cargo transportation. In the implementation of the decision, it was stated that the customs duties of mobile phones brought by passengers in violation of their declarations will be doubled and the goods will be delivered to the owner. In this case, it was announced that necessary measures were taken to prevent tax loss by introducing the phones exceeding the exemption limit to the national network. Regional Directorates were instructed to notify the Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) of the persons and IMEI numbers of the phones exceeding the exemption limit.
Excess exemption phones can be kept for 3 months
With the new regulation, it was emphasized that there is no change in the practice of granting exemption only to one mobile phone brought with the passenger as a personal item. Since the use of the second mobile phones brought in the status of souvenirs or in violation of the declaration is prevented by not registering the IMEI, the practice of delivering the phones in this scope by paying the lump sum taxes has been abolished.
The statement said, “If the passenger wishes to take delivery of the mobile phone brought in excess of the exemption, it is possible to keep it in the customs warehouses for the 3-month period specified in the Customs Law and to return it by delivering it to the passenger when the passenger leaves the country again within the period.”
