Question 1

How do I form a company in Turkey?

Accepted Answer

To form a company in Türkiye, choose a company type (LTD Şti. or A.Ş.), draft the articles of association, register through the MERSIS portal, obtain a tax identification number at the local tax office, and register with social security (SGK). Foreign founders can complete the process remotely using a notarized power of attorney. Average formation time is 5–7 business days.

Question 2

What is the difference between LTD and A.Ş. in Turkey?

Accepted Answer

An LTD Şti. requires minimum 50,000 TRY capital, supports 1–50 shareholders, and share transfers require notary approval — best for SMEs and startups. An A.Ş. requires minimum 250,000 TRY capital, has no shareholder limit, and shares are freely transferable. A.Ş. is required for companies planning to raise venture capital, issue stock options, or pursue a public offering.

Question 3

What is the minimum share capital for a Turkish company?

Accepted Answer

The minimum share capital is 50,000 TRY for an LTD Şti. and 250,000 TRY for an A.Ş. At least 25% of the capital must be deposited to a blocked bank account before registration; the remaining 75% may be paid within 24 months of formation.

Question 4

What is MERSIS in Turkey?

Accepted Answer

MERSIS (Merkezi Sicil Kayıt Sistemi) is Turkey's Central Registry Record System — the mandatory online portal operated by the Ministry of Trade for all commercial registry transactions. Every company formation application must be processed through MERSIS, which issues a unique registry number to each registered entity.

Question 5

How long does company formation take in Turkey?

Accepted Answer

Registering an LTD Şti. in Türkiye typically takes 5–7 business days from document submission to Trade Registry approval. For foreign founders using a power of attorney, apostille processing may add 3–10 days depending on the originating country.

Question 6

Do I need a physical office to register a company in Turkey?

Accepted Answer

A registered business address in Türkiye is required for company formation. This can be a physical office or a virtual office address. Virtual office services are legally recognized for company registration purposes and are commonly used by foreign founders.

Question 7

What taxes does a Turkish company pay?

Accepted Answer

Turkish companies pay: Corporate Income Tax (Kurumlar Vergisi) at 25%; Value Added Tax (KDV) at 20% standard rate; Withholding Tax (Muhtasar) on salaries and professional service fees; Stamp Duty (Damga Vergisi) on contracts; and Social Security Contributions (SGK) on employee wages.

Question 8

What is KDV (VAT) in Turkey and when must it be filed?

Accepted Answer

KDV (Katma Değer Vergisi) is Turkey's Value Added Tax. The standard rate is 20%, reduced to 10% for food and some medicines, and 1% for basic staples. KDV declarations must be filed monthly by the 26th of the following month through the GİB portal.

Question 9

What is the Muhtasar declaration?

Accepted Answer

Muhtasar is a monthly withholding tax declaration filed by employers and companies making payments subject to withholding — including salaries, rent, professional service fees, and dividends. It must be filed by the 26th of each month. Since 2019 it has been combined with the SGK premium declaration into a single filing (MPHB).

Question 10

When is the corporate tax return due in Turkey?

Accepted Answer

The corporate income tax return must be filed by April 30 of the following fiscal year. Companies pay quarterly advance tax instalments (geçici vergi) in February, May, August, and November, which are reconciled against the final liability at annual filing.

Question 11

What are Ba and Bs forms in Turkey?

Accepted Answer

Ba and Bs forms are monthly reconciliation declarations reporting business purchases (Ba) and sales (Bs) above 5,000 TRY per vendor or customer per month. They allow GİB to cross-check taxpayer transactions. Both must be filed by the 26th of the following month.

Question 12

Can a foreigner own 100% of a Turkish company?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Foreign nationals can own 100% of a Turkish company in most sectors without restriction. You do not need to be a Turkish citizen or resident. Required documents include a notarized and apostilled passport copy, and a power of attorney if acting remotely. There are no local shareholder or resident director requirements for most business types.

Question 13

What is an apostille and why is it needed for Turkish company formation?

Accepted Answer

An apostille is an authentication certificate under the Hague Apostille Convention that verifies the authenticity of public documents for use abroad. Foreign founders forming a Turkish company must have their passport copies and power of attorney notarized and then apostilled by a competent authority in their home country.

Question 14

Can a foreign-owned Turkish company open a bank account?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A Turkish company with foreign ownership can open a corporate bank account in Türkiye. Required documents include the Trade Registry certificate, tax identification number, notarized passport of the authorized signatory, and a signature declaration (imza beyannamesi). Most banks require at least one in-person visit.

Question 15

What is e-Fatura in Turkey?

Accepted Answer

e-Fatura (electronic invoice) is Türkiye's mandatory digital invoicing system operated by GİB. e-Fatura documents are transmitted in real time between taxpayer systems through GİB's central infrastructure in XML format. It is mandatory for companies above the annual turnover threshold (3 million TRY as of 2025, reviewed annually).

Question 16

What is the difference between e-Fatura and e-Arşiv?

Accepted Answer

e-Fatura is used for transactions between two registered e-Fatura taxpayers and transmitted in real time through GİB's central system. e-Arşiv is used for all other transactions where the buyer is not in the e-Fatura system — the invoice is digital but not transmitted through GİB in real time. All e-Fatura users must also issue e-Arşiv invoices for non-e-Fatura transactions.

Question 17

Who must register for e-Fatura in Turkey?

Accepted Answer

e-Fatura is mandatory for companies with annual revenue above 3 million TRY (2025 threshold); taxpayers in specific sectors regardless of revenue (e-commerce, construction, rental car, food delivery, accommodation); and any company voluntarily registering. The threshold is reviewed annually by GİB.

Question 18

What does Globli do?

Accepted Answer

Globli is a legal operations platform for companies in Türkiye. It handles company formation (LTD and A.Ş.), monthly tax filing (KDV, Muhtasar, Kurumlar Vergisi), e-Fatura and e-Arşiv setup, document management, and provides an AI-powered legal assistant trained on Turkish law. All filings are handled through licensed SMMM partners.

Question 19

Does Globli file taxes on my behalf?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Globli's licensed SMMM (Serbest Muhasebeci Mali Müşavir) partners handle all monthly and annual tax filings on your behalf, including KDV, Muhtasar, and Kurumlar Vergisi. You review and approve filings through the Globli dashboard before submission.

Question 20

Can I manage multiple companies on Globli?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Globli supports multi-company management from a single account. Each company has its own dashboard, filing calendar, document vault, and compliance status. Accountants and legal advisors can manage multiple client companies through the same login with role-based access controls.

Everything you need to know about Turkish company operations

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