TÜRMOB-licensed CPA · within Sistem Global Danışmanlık · 4. Levent, Istanbul
Diagnosis
Pick one and the rest of the page narrows to it. Skip it and the page carries on as normal.
A round is on the horizon and the books need to be in a state you can show an investor. Shareholder accounts, capital history and the share ledger are the first files opened.
Yes, and it is not optional: Turkish law requires capital companies to keep their books through a licensed accountant (SMMM), so every registered company already has one. The question worth asking is what sits on top of that. Filing returns on time is compliance; choosing the entity type, the capital structure, the shareholder current account and the incentive regime are decisions. When the second part is missing, the cost does not appear on a tax return — it appears at a funding round, a share transfer or an audit.
Let us go through the books together before the round.
30-minute callYour revenue arrives in foreign currency and you are not sure the service export deduction is being applied correctly. Because it applies to earnings rather than turnover, it can come out at zero even on high revenue.
To pay taxes as a freelancer in Turkey, you must register with the tax office as a self-employed professional. You need to maintain a professional income ledger, issue professional invoices for services, submit quarterly provisional tax returns and an annual income tax return.
Let us look at the documents that defend the deduction.
30-minute callThe exemption is on file, but which earnings fall inside its scope gets re-argued every period. The qualifying expenditure ratio, the 3% fund obligation and the sworn CPA certification file are three ends of the same calculation.
Companies operating in Technology Development Zones (Technoparks) are exempt from corporate income tax and VAT on revenues derived from software, R&D and design activities until December 31, 2028. Additionally, income tax withholding and employer's social security contributions for R&D personnel working in the zone are also exempt.
Let us separate in-scope from out-of-scope earnings properly, once.
30-minute callRegistration went more smoothly than expected; the hard part started afterwards: the bank account, the MASAK compliance file, the non-resident shareholder’s status and the recurring filings.
Yes, foreign nationals (individuals or legal entities) can establish a company in Turkey. The most common choice is a limited liability company (Ltd. Şti.) or joint-stock company (A.Ş.). Minimum capital requirements and notarised documents are required, and double taxation treaties allow foreign investors to benefit from additional tax advantages.
Let us get through the account opening without stalling.
30-minute callThe returns go in on time, but you cannot see which work leaves a margin or which month cash will get tight. What you find out at year end is usually what could still have been changed in December.
In Turkey, entrepreneurs can benefit from technopark exemptions, R&D incentives, young entrepreneur tax deductions and various SME support programs. Additionally, companies investing in regions covered by regional incentives may receive corporate tax reductions, social security premium support and interest subsidies.
Let us settle the shareholder account and the capital calendar in one sitting.
30-minute callFeaturedContent CreatorsOctober 2026
Do YouTube income, affiliate commissions, online lessons and app store sales qualify for Turkey's 20/B exemption? The 2026 limit, 15% withholding and Payoneer.
Read the article
About
I practise as a Certified Public Accountant and tax advisor. I have devoted most of my career to helping businesses not just file their returns, but build sound financial decisions from the ground up. Today I run the accounting and tax practice within Sistem Global Danışmanlık, where our team serves clients from SMEs to international founders.
My expertise centres on Turkish corporate and income tax law, but goes well beyond that. I advise on cross-border taxation, technopark regulations and the service-export earnings deduction.
I work with SME owners, freelancers, startup founders and international entrepreneurs looking to do business in Turkey. Turning complex regulations into clear decisions has been the essence of what I have done since 2003.
Capital structuring, entity selection and investor reporting for newly formed companies.
IIIncome, corporate and VAT planning — compliance and optimisation together.
IIIForeign-owned company formation in Turkey: entity choice and ongoing tax obligations.
IVCash-flow tracking, profitability analysis, monthly reporting and e-transformation.
VRegistration, e-invoicing, deductible expenses and advance tax calculation.
VISeparating in-scope from out-of-scope earnings, payroll incentives, the fund obligation and the certification file.
VIIConditions of the earnings deduction, the minimum corporate tax effect, the certification threshold and cost allocation with mixed clients.
7What each area covers, who it fits and how the work runs
Tools
The answer is usually not in a general rule but in your own figures. These are the same tools I use with clients.
Prefer to read it all in one place? Doing business in Turkey: free 2026 guide (PDF)
Sectors
In software and games it is the scope of the incentive; for companies selling abroad it is documenting the exemption; for foreign capital it is the operation after formation. I run the compliance for all three end to end.
Cut-off on subscription revenue, cost apportionment with mixed customers, separating what falls inside the incentive.
Platform collections, choosing between technopark and the service export regime, foreign studio structures.
Separating in-scope from out-of-scope earnings, payroll incentives, the sworn CPA certification file.
The conditions of the service export deduction, repatriating the earnings, payment provider balances.
Operations after formation, the bank account and MASAK file, the non-resident shareholder’s status.
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All articlesFAQ
In Turkey, entrepreneurs can benefit from technopark exemptions, R&D incentives, young entrepreneur tax deductions and various SME support programs. Additionally, companies investing in regions covered by regional incentives may receive corporate tax reductions, social security premium support and interest subsidies.
Companies operating in Technology Development Zones (Technoparks) are exempt from corporate income tax and VAT on revenues derived from software, R&D and design activities until December 31, 2028. Additionally, income tax withholding and employer's social security contributions for R&D personnel working in the zone are also exempt.
Yes, foreign nationals (individuals or legal entities) can establish a company in Turkey. The most common choice is a limited liability company (Ltd. Şti.) or joint-stock company (A.Ş.). Minimum capital requirements and notarised documents are required, and double taxation treaties allow foreign investors to benefit from additional tax advantages.
To pay taxes as a freelancer in Turkey, you must register with the tax office as a self-employed professional. You need to maintain a professional income ledger, issue professional invoices for services, submit quarterly provisional tax returns and an annual income tax return.
Yes, and it is not optional: Turkish law requires capital companies to keep their books through a licensed accountant (SMMM), so every registered company already has one. The question worth asking is what sits on top of that. Filing returns on time is compliance; choosing the entity type, the capital structure, the shareholder current account and the incentive regime are decisions. When the second part is missing, the cost does not appear on a tax return — it appears at a funding round, a share transfer or an audit.
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