Tax champions awarded

The Finance Ministry for the first time this year awarded the tax champions from 80 cities. In the meeting which Dogan Holding Chairman Aydin Dogan was chosen as the record - breaking tax - payer, Dogan Holding Financial Affairs Deputy President Imre Barmanbek received the award in the name of Mr. Dogan.

Income and corporation tax payers who paid the highest taxes across 80 cities were awarded for the first time this year by the Finance Ministry. Aydin Dogan, the owner of the daily Milliyet was chosen as the record - holder as the Finance Minister Zekeriya Temizel announced that the tax - paying champions will be granted green passports.
In his opening speech of the ceremony held for the 9th Tax Week at the Ankara Hilton hotel, the Finance Minister Zekeriya Temizel said the draft law of tax reforms gained huge support from the public, thus the draft law was taken on the parliamentary agenda. Despite this support, he adds, the sensitivity over taxes is not enough. Alhough the debates on taxes has been almost boring over the recent months, they have discovered that most of the people became aware of the 1952 tax law just during these debates, he observes.
"We must build a public consciousness over taxes. And we must keep on discussing the issue for some time more" he says adding that for the first time in history they decided to award the record - breaking tax payers as the Finance Ministry. Mr. Temizel defined the 80 cities' record - holder tax payers as "honorable citizens of Turkey" promising that the awarding ceremonies will be held each year.