Turkey has introduced an 8% tax on yachts, cutters, motorboats and other pleasure craft.
The Special Consumption Tax ends a zero-rate exemption that had applied to luxury vessels.
The notice published in the Official Gazette states that the tax, previously set a 0% in 2017, will be applied to: –
· Pleasure vessels under 18 gross tonnage designed for sea travel
· Passenger and excursion vessels not designed for sea navigation
· Yachts, cutters, motorboats, canoes, rowboats, and other leisure or sports watercraft
Registering or purchasing
Inflatable boats such as rowing boats and canoes with a unit weight not exceeding 100kg are excluded.
The tax came into effect on September 5 2025 and yacht owners will now have to pay the additional 8% tax when registering or purchasing new vessels.
The tax will affect the charter sector and private individuals.
The decree partially addresses the contrast between STC rates on automobiles and yachts.
Turkey is a leading global producer of superyachts with exports of ships, yachts and services totalling $1.25 billion in the period from January to August 2025.
