Turkey Import Duties & Taxes Explained

Yes, you will pay customs duties and taxes on your shipment arriving in Turkey. As of February 2026, Turkey has no de minimis exemption for e-commerce, meaning all shipments require formal customs clearance with duties and taxes applied. You can expect a 60% customs duty on most items from the USA, plus 20% VAT (or 10% for textiles/apparel/footwear), a 20% Special Consumption Tax on electronics and cosmetics, and carrier brokerage fees starting around 1,350 TRY ($40+) per shipment. You must also provide your Turkish ID number (TCKN) to your carrier to facilitate clearance.

No, there is effectively a €0 threshold as of February 2026. The simplified customs system for low-value e-commerce has been abolished, meaning every shipment must undergo formal customs procedures regardless of value.

You will generally pay 20% VAT, though a reduced rate of 10% may apply to textiles and footwear. This tax is calculated on the total taxable base, which includes the item value, shipping, insurance, customs duty, and any Special Consumption Tax.

Yes, many common items like electronics, cosmetics, and luxury goods are subject to a 20% Special Consumption Tax (SCT/ÖTV). This fee is applied before VAT is calculated, significantly increasing the total cost for these categories.

Since simplified declarations were removed, carriers now charge formal entry or terminal service fees starting around 1,350 TRY per shipment. These brokerage fees are separate from government taxes and cover the mandatory paperwork processing.

Yes, you must provide your Turkish ID number (TCKN) or tax number to your carrier to facilitate the formal entry process. Without this information, your shipment cannot be cleared through customs.

Yes, but expect total taxes and fees to often exceed 100% of the item's purchase price due to the combination of 60% duty, 20% SCT, and 20% VAT. Use the CIF value plus all applicable tax layers to get a realistic estimate.

Importing more than 5 shipments per month or multiple units of the same item may cause customs to reclassify your shipment as commercial. This leads to extreme delays and much higher commercial-tier taxes.

Printed books for personal use are typically exempt from the 60% customs duty but still require formal processing and may incur VAT. However, they must still pass through the mandatory formal entry procedures introduced in 2026.

Taxes and duties are collected by Turkish Customs (Ministry of Trade) and your carrier, such as DHL or FedEx. The carrier usually collects these fees directly from you upon delivery or before releasing the package.