Tax Declarations in Turkey: A Practical Guide for Investors

Establishing a company in Turkey offers strategic investment opportunities but also brings certain fiscal responsibilities. Complying with tax regulations is essential to fulfill legal obligations, avoid penalties, and safeguard your investment.

Below is a summary of the main tax filing obligations that companies operating in Turkey must adhere to:

Monthly Declarations

1. Value Added Tax (VAT) Return
   • Submitted monthly.
   • Companies registered for VAT must report the VAT collected on sales and the VAT paid on purchases.
   • Filing deadline: by the 26th of the following month; Payment deadline: by the 28th.
2. Withholding and Social Security Declaration
   • Submitted monthly (can be quarterly for certain small businesses).
   • Covers income tax withholding on employee salaries and social security premiums (SGK).
   • Filing deadline: by the 26th; Social security payment: by the 30th.
3. Stamp Tax Declaration
   • Applies to contracts, declarations, and official documents issued each month.
   • Filing deadline: by the 26th; Payment: by the 28th.

Quarterly Declarations

1. Provisional Corporate Tax Return
   • A temporary payment based on the company’s profit for the three-month period.
   • Submitted in March, May, August, and November.
   • Filing and payment deadline: by the 17th of the second month following the quarter.
   • Note: Provisional tax payments are offset against the annual corporate tax.

Annual Declarations

1. Corporate Income Tax Return
   • Applies to capital companies (Joint Stock and Limited Liability Companies), based on net profit at year-end.
   • Filing deadline: by the end of April; Payment: by April 30.
2. Annual Income Tax Return
   • Relevant for sole proprietorships and individual investors.
   • Filing deadline: end of March; Payment: in two installments, in March and July.

For More Information

To learn more about your tax obligations in Turkey or to ensure compliance with professional support, please feel free to contact us.