The withholding tax rate on earnings from units in money market funds and investment funds whose names include “money market” has been raised to 10%. The Presidential Decision on the measure entered into force after being published in the Official Gazette.
New withholding tax rules for institutional investors
Under the amendment made pursuant to provisional Article 67 of Income Tax Law No. 193, the withholding tax rate on earnings obtained by domestic and foreign institutional investors from the funds in question was set at 10%, up from the previous rate of 0%.
For domestic institutional investors, the withholding tax amounts deducted may be offset against provisional tax declared for quarterly tax periods. For foreign institutional investors, the 10% deduction will constitute the final tax.
No change in rates for other fund earnings
The 0% withholding tax rate will continue to apply to domestic and foreign institutional investors’ earnings from all funds other than money market funds.
No change was made to the 17.5% withholding tax regime applied to earnings obtained by domestic and foreign individuals from investment fund units.
Different treatment for existing and new fund units
Earnings from new fund units acquired after the measure enters into force will be directly subject to the 10% withholding tax.
For fund units acquired before the effective date, earnings accrued up to the publication date will be excluded from withholding tax. For these units, tax will apply only to the portion of earnings attributable to the period between the date of publication of the decision and the date of disposal.