Turkey starts 2022 with major price and tax hikes

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The government increased energy prices and various taxes in the early hours of the new year.

The sharpest increase was in electricity prices, which, for households, was raised by 127 percent for uses over 150 kilowatt hours and 52 percent for below 100 kilowatt hours. The average monthly electricity consumption of a household in Turkey is over 200 kilowatt hours.

The price of natural gas has been increased by 25 percent for households, 15 percent for power plants and 50 percent for industrial facilities.

Gasoline prices per liter rose by 61 kuruş, diesel price per liter rose by 1.29 lira and auto LPG price per liter rose by 78 kuruş.

The price of gasoline per liter is 12.98 lira in the capital city of Ankara and 12.92 lira in İstanbul  (1 US dollar = 13.68 Turkish lira).

Bridges and tunnels

Vehicles passing over the bridges crossing İstanbul's Bosphorus strait will be charged in both directions in 2022. The bridge toll was 13.25 lira for one direction last year. It will be 8.25 lira for each direction this year.

The toll for the Eurasia Tunnel, which also connects the eastern and western sides of Istanbul, increased from 46 to 52 lira. There will be a 50 percent discount on the price between 12 a.m. and 5 a.m.

Motor vehicles tax and traffic fines

The government raised the motor vehicles tax by 25 percent. The lowest MVT amount for automobiles will be 136 lira and the highest amount will be 62,633 lira.

People will pay a tax of 1,313 lira to 1,576 lira for a 1 to 3-year-old car with a cylinder volume of 1300cc.

The penalty for not using a seat belt has increased from 144 to 196 lira and penalties for running a red light and talking on a phone while driving has increased from 314 to 427 lira.

The prices for passports, ID cards and notary papers have also increased. (TP/VK)