The move is aimed at supporting local media outlets struggling with declining advertising revenue. If approved, Turkey will have one of the highest digital services tax rates among major economies.
RF Report
Turkey’s Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), an ally of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has submitted a bill to the parliament that would raise the digital services tax (DST) for foreign companies from 7.5% to 12.5%, while keeping the rate for domestic firms unchanged.
The move is aimed at supporting local media outlets struggling with declining advertising revenue.
The proposed amendment would revise the 2019 Digital Services Tax Law (Law No. 7194) to cover digital advertising, streaming services, online content sales, and social media operations. Companies earning less than TRY 20 million in Turkey or EUR 750 globally would remain exempt. MHP Deputy Chairman İsmail Özdemir said the change would ensure fairer competition and attract investment to Turkey’s digital sector.
The bill will now be reviewed by the relevant parliamentary committee before a general vote. If approved, Turkey will have one of the highest digital services tax rates among major economies.
The proposal follows broader efforts to strengthen domestic media, including rules for foreign platforms to maintain local offices and content quotas for streaming services.
