Turkey’s central government budget deficit narrowed to TRY 229.9 billion in March 2026 from TRY 261.5 billion in the same month a year earlier. Budget revenues surged 60.6% year-on-year to TRY 1.23 trillion, supported by a 63.9% jump in tax collections to TRY 1.06 trillion, driven by strong increases in income tax, domestic VAT, VAT on imports, and special consumption tax receipts. Meanwhile, total expenditures rose 42.1% to TRY 1.46 trillion, led by higher current transfers, personnel spending, and interest payments. Non-interest expenditures increased 41.3% to TRY 1.22 trillion, while interest payments climbed 46.3% to TRY 236.0 billion, reflecting rising debt-servicing costs. Despite the deficit, the primary balance returned to a surplus of TRY 6.1 billion, compared with a deficit of TRY 100.2 billion a year earlier, supported by strong revenue growth outpacing non-interest spending.
