The Resource Utilization Support Fund ("RUSF") is an amount that is being collected since 1988 via banks in Turkey at the utilization of both domestic and foreign credit facilities according to the cost of imported goods, and is transferred to Central Bank of Republic of Turkey.

This financial imposition stem from the Turkish Constitution's Article 167;

"In order to regulate foreign trade for the benefit of the economy of the country, the Council of Ministers is empowered by law to introduce additional financial impositions on imports, exports and other foreign trade transactions, except taxes and similar impositions, or to lift them."

The transactions that are subject to RUSF

The general feature for the transactions that are subject to the RUSF is such transactions having a credit facility element. Therefore, the import with credit is defined under the Turkish Central Bank's circular No. YB-96/9 within Implementation of the Protection of Turkish Currency Law's Provisions concerning Import.

This circular provides that;

  • The import with cash on delivery,
  • The import with acceptance credit,
  • The import with the deferred payment letter of credit, are import with credit.

These import payment methods within the said-above circular are subject to RUSF by the reason of the fact that such credits are provided to the importer through the cost of import payment after the realization of actual importation of the goods.

The rate of RUSF is determined as 0% on the importation of certain goods with the Decree of Council of Ministers No. 2015/7511 published on Official Gazette dated 10 April 2015

The rate of RUSF for the import with cash on delivery, acceptance credit and deferred payment letter of credit is raised to 6% by the Decree of Council of Ministers as of effective 13 October 2011. However, along with the newly enacted Decree No. 2015/7511, 6% rate is reduced to 0% on the importation of certain goods such as; animal and vegetable agricultural and food products, tobacco, metal ore, mineral fuels and oils, inorganic and organic chemicals and medical pharmaceuticals, electrical devices, air vehicles and vessels.

In addition to above-mentioned goods also nuclear reactor, boiler, machine, mechanical devices and tools and its parts and components are subject to 0% RUSF along with the Decree No. 2015/7511.

Conclusion

As the RUSF inclusive to the value added tax assessment, a scale-down on the rate of RUSF inclines a drop on the tax costs. In this respect, it is expected that the zeroed rate of RUSF for certain goods may incentivize the development of the sectors regarding to these good.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.