The Treasury will now knock on the doors of those who continue to use old-style POS devices. A penalty of up to 20 thousand liras will be imposed for each detection of illegal mobile POS devices still in use. Banks that do not retrieve these devices from taxpayers will face a fine of 200 thousand liras. The Ministry of Treasury and Finance, in the context of combating the informal economy, will impose penalties on those who continue to use old-style POS devices despite the transition to new generation payment recording devices where POS device and cash register are combined. The Ministry has started implementing many measures within the scope of combating the informal economy, including ensuring the correct and timely issuance of financial documents such as retail sales receipts and invoices, as well as expanding payment opportunities with cards. With the system launched by the Ministry in 2013, allowing payments to be made with bank cards at retail establishments through mobile EFT-POS devices issuing receipts, the integration of these devices with new generation payment recording devices was planned. Consequently, in payments via bank cards through new generation payment recording devices, receipts and payment recording device receipts began to be issued as a single document in an integrated manner. This system aims to prevent abuses such as informal transactions, unauthorized lending through mobile EFT-POS, or issuing receipts or invoices in the name of individuals other than the ones making the purchases. The discontinuation of the use of these POS devices and old generation payment recording devices on a specific timeline and the commencement of using new generation payment recording devices with EFT-POS feature were planned. Upon the failure to achieve this transformation completely, a communique published on December 30, 2023 stipulated that the transformation should be completed by no later than July 1, 2024, and the obligation to accept payments with bank cards through new generation payment recording devices was introduced. Furthermore, specific penalty regulations were made regarding issues such as collecting payments using someone else’s name or account, using others’ payment systems and devices, or failing to provide appropriate devices and systems to taxpayers. The Ministry, upon the identification that mobile EFT-POS devices are still being used by taxpayers, took action by writing letters to all banks and payment institutions. The letters demanded the cessation of the use of previously incorrectly provided mobile EFT-POS devices by retail businesses, the retrieval of these devices from taxpayers, and the provision of new generation payment recording devices or devices with secure financial application systems in their place. Those found to be using mobile EFT-POS devices against the ban, despite selling retail goods or services, will receive SMS messages and letters. The Ministry demanded that these devices cease to be used, be returned to banks or payment institutions, new generation payment recording devices or devices with secure financial application systems be obtained, and payments with bank cards be accepted through these devices. As a result of these procedures, penalties will be imposed separately for each detection, with fines of 20 thousand liras for taxpayers keeping on using forbidden mobile EFT-POS devices according to the balance sheet system, and 10 thousand liras for those following the operating account system, as well as a 200 thousand lira fine for banks and payment institutions that do not retrieve these devices from taxpayers. Additionally, those taxpayers who do not allow payments with bank cards through new generation payment recording devices will also face penalties of 20 thousand liras or 10 thousand liras separately for each detection. Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek emphasized their unwavering commitment to the efforts aimed at ensuring tax justice, grasping the areas that remain outside the system, and increasing tax compliance levels. Şimşek stated, “Putting an end to the use of incorrect POS devices, retrieving these devices from taxpayers, and providing new generation payment recording devices instead hold critical importance in combating the informal economy. Taxpayers who fail to make this change, as well as banks and payment institutions, will be penalized. Our Ministry continues its determined efforts without interruption in combating informality in retail trade.”