600-Million-Lira Investment Ushers in New-Generation Tax Stamp Era

TRY 600 Million Investment Marks Start of Next-Generation Excise Stamps Era A new generation of excise stamps produced with software developed by Turkish engineers has begun. Next-generation excise stamps deployed by the General Directorate of the Mint and Stamp Printing House protect consumers from counterfeit stamps through high security features. Thanks to easy verification with the naked eye, next-generation excise stamps turn each consumer into an inspector. These stamps will also be traceable through a mobile application scheduled to launch in September. Developed by Turkish engineers with a total investment of TRY 600 million, next-generation excise stamps are manufactured at Europe's largest excise stamp production facility with high security features. Next-generation excise stamps have begun deployment for use by the General Directorate of the Mint and Stamp Printing House, manufactured domestically and nationally. Developed by Turkish engineers, next-generation excise stamps offer superior technology, high security and design features that both protect consumers and prevent government revenue loss. Primary features of next-generation excise stamps include non-reusability and non-reproducibility when torn, as well as ease of verification by anyone through an application. Produced with a total investment of TRY 600 million, next-generation excise stamps are manufactured at a facility in the İzmir Bağyurdu Organized Industrial Zone that holds the distinction of being Europe's largest excise stamp production facility, using high security standards equivalent to those of central banks.

Excise tax revenues secured

Speaking at a press conference held at the facility, Mint and Stamp Printing House General Director Abdullah Yasir Şahin stated, "Turkey has been using the same excise stamps for the last 14 years, but with evolving technology we needed to transition to a new system. Developed by Turkish engineers with next-generation superior technology, uncopyable excise stamp production will both protect our consumers and prevent revenue loss for our state. Through this system, we have secured approximately TRY 125 billion of our state's excise tax revenues. I wish these next-generation excise stamps, a world first, to benefit our country."

Europe's largest excise stamp production facility

Total investment in the next-generation excise stamp reached TRY 600 million. This investment, realized without using any public funds, comprised TRY 250 million for the facility in the İzmir Bağyurdu Organized Industrial Zone that produces excise stamps with latest technology and superior security systems. Field investments totaled TRY 350 million.

Annual production of 10 billion excise stamps

The facility, established in a 10,000 square meter enclosed area, ranks as Europe's largest excise stamp production facility. The facility, with production capacity of 25 billion units, will produce 10 billion excise stamps annually for over 400 production lines and 7,200 different products found at approximately 200 manufacturers and importers.  

High-security ink technology

At the facility employing high-security ink technology, production is carried out using machinery in a security printing facility equipped with hybrid printing technologies. Given the critical function of paper, which is a highly precision product, in excise stamp production, the facility features a specially designed climate control system to enable quality printing and is also equipped with smart building systems.

Security features that leave no room for counterfeiters

Next-generation excise stamps produced at the facility, where security measures equivalent to those used in central banks are applied, feature uncopyable properties due to the special ink and printing technologies used. Excise stamps contain security features in 5 different layers. These layers consist of overt, semi-covert, covert, digital and forensic authentication layers. Each layer contains multiple distinct security features. While only some of these are used by consumers, others can be verified by government inspectors using specialized equipment. Forensic authentication features are also verified in specialized laboratories.

Verification with naked eye and mobile phone

Next-generation excise stamps, produced using special manufacturing and printing technology with high security criteria similar to banknotes, can be easily verified with the naked eye. This effectively makes every consumer an 'inspector'. Distinguishing new stamps from counterfeit ones is much easier thanks to their appearance changing from different angles.

Export-target facility becomes new source of employment

The facility currently employs 165 people, with the goal of increasing the workforce to over 250 by 2023. Plans are also underway to export the produced high-security next-generation excise stamps and systems to foreign markets, particularly neighboring regions, in the near term.

Old and new stamps will coexist on shelves for a certain period

Old stamps may appear alongside next-generation stamps on shelves for a certain period due to existing inventory. Authorities indicated that consumers need not be concerned, noting that inspections will continue as rigorously as always. By year-end, next-generation stamps are expected to appear on the majority of target products.