The effect of natural disasters on tax policies in selected countries

The world has witnessed many natural, human or technology-induced disasters since the day it was formed. Although these disasters differ according to geographical locations, they affect people socially and economically. In order to reduce the economic losses, the state brings new tax policies on the one hand and provides conveniences to the people affected by the disaster on the other. Turkey has also been exposed to many natural disasters. Especially the recent and still ongoing Covid-19 epidemic affects Turkey as well as the whole world in many ways. The aim of this study is to examine what kind of tax changes caused by natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods and viruses in Turkey and in the world, and what kind of tax policy the states follow in such cases. In order to detail this review, five countries are determined and the tax decisions taken in natural disaster situations are examined. The identified countries were Australia, the United States of America, China, Japan and Turkey. Natural disaster events and statistics of these countries from past to present were evaluated by document/record analysis method. As a result of the evaluations, a comparison is made by examining the tax decisions taken as a result of natural disasters in the countries. As a result of the research, it is seen that each country struggles with different natural disasters according to its geographical location. Although there are different natural disasters, it has been observed that the determined countries take similar decisions in terms of taxation in natural disaster situations. In fact, in order to combat natural disasters, continental, regional and country-wide organizations are established and decisions are taken around the world.