Application for VAT reduction in the stationery sector

A few days before the new educational period, a request for a VAT reduction came from the stationery sector.

Noting that the prices of stationery products have increased by 40 to 75 percent compared to last year, the president of the Association of All Stationers (TÜKİD), Vecdet Şendil, said that a VAT of 20 percent on some stationery products and 10 percent on some stationery products.

Şendil recalled that VAT, which in the past was 8 percent for many products, was increased with the regulations recently published in the Official Gazette.

APPLICATION FOR REDUCTION OF VAT TO 1 PERCENT

Explaining that there are many product options in different price ranges on the market for consumers and that school bags can be bought for 200 or 800 lira, Şendil demanded that VAT on some products, such as mechanical pencils, be reduced to 10 percent.

Şendil made the following statements on the subject:

“Stationery items like erasers, pencils, notebooks, and paints are as basic as food. We want low-income people to have easier access to stationery products and reduce VAT from 10 per cent to 1 per cent to pave the way for the industry. We hope that the VAT rate on stationery items will be reduced to reasonable levels as soon as possible.”

PRODUCT WARNING UNDER STAIRS

Şendil, in addition to the VAT discount, also warned parents about products under the stairs.

“Parents should stay away from over-the-counter products whose manufacturer or importer is unknown. Şendil said that products with a known identity should be purchased and consumers should definitely look at the label when buying products and should prefer products with a known manufacturer or importer, i.e. identity.

Noting that the Ministry of Commerce announced the products it deems unsafe as a result of inspections in the “Unsafe Products Information System” (GÜBIS), Şendil said:

“Our consumers should carefully examine the packaging of the products they buy. In particular, they should check if the crayons have the “CE” mark and the statement “complies with the EN71 standard”.

They should be aware that spray paints and adhesives are water based and do not contain solvents. They should pay attention to which age group products that are toy-shaped or have toy-like features are intended for.

If parents think that the product they buy is not safe and doubt the identity of the product, they can file a complaint with the Alo 175 Consumer Hotline, in this way they can support us in our fight against counterfeit, pirated and illegal products”. (AA)