Impostos a Turquia

Company Tax

23% from 2022 (20% from 2023)
the corporate income tax rate is reduced by 1% for profits derived exclusively from manufacturing activities, and exclusively from export operations

Tax Rate For Foreign Companies

Resident companies, with their legal seat or place of management in Turkey, are full taxpayers and are taxed on worldwide income. Non-resident companies are limited taxpayers and taxed only on income derived in Turkey.
The branch profit transferred to headquarters is subject to dividend withholding tax at a rate of 10% from 2022 (was 15% until 2021 - the rate could be reduced under a tax treaty).

Capital Gains Taxation

Long term capital gains of a company are taxed as ordinary income, with an exemption of 75% of capital gains from the sale of shares in domestic participations (provided that the shares have been held for at least two years and the gains from the sale will be kept in a special reserve account for at least five years).
Capital gains from the sale of immovable property held for a minimum period of two years are exempt from tax up to 50%.
Capital gains derived from the sale of foreign participations that have been held for at least two years by an international holding company resident in Turkey are exempt from corporate income tax.

Main Allowable Deductions and Tax Credits

Expenses that can be deducted from the corporation tax base include ordinary and necessary expenses incurred in the course of general business, real property tax related to business, bad debts, and expenses for research and development. An allowance is available until the end of 2023 to companies that carry out qualifying R&D and design activities (100% of expenditure in addition to a deduction for such expenditure in the statutory accounts). Moreover, 80% of the income tax computed on the wages of R&D and design personnel is exempt from income withholding tax (the rate is increased to 95% for employees with a PhD or master’s degree in fundamental sciences, and 90% for employees with a master’s degree in any field or an undergraduate degree in fundamental sciences). Companies are also exempt from stamp duty on any R&D-related documents and goods imported to this end are exempt from customs duties. In addition, an increase in R&D expenditure compared to the previous year (at least by 20%) gives rise to further deductions.

Start-up expenses are considered deductible expenses as incurred. Moreover, the taxpayer has the option to capitalise such expenses and depreciate them over five years in equal amounts.

Donations to listed charities and for the construction of schools, hospitals, and scientific research organisations are deductible at up to 5% of the company’s gross profit. Under certain conditions, payments for pensions and employee termination benefits are deductible for corporate income tax purposes.

"Strategic" investments (as determined by the government, such as investment in the production of products that rely heavily on imports) give rise to a deduction of up to 100% of corporate tax, along with several other advantages concerning customs duties, employer's social security contributions, etc.

Tax losses can be carried forward for up to five years. The carryback of losses is prohibited. Charges for royalties and interest paid to foreign affiliates may be deductible for corporate income tax purposes when transfer pricing and thin capitalisation rules are followed.

For further information on available tax incentives, consult the dedicated page on the Revenue Administration portal.

Other Corporate Taxes

Buildings and land owned in Turkey are subject to an annual real estate tax at different rates: 0.2% for buildings, 0.1% for dwellings, 0.1% for land, and 0.3% for building sites (such rates are increased by 100% for buildings and land located within larger cities).
Real estate transfers are subject to a tax calculated as 4% of the acquisition/transfer value, which is split equally between the buyer and the seller.

Stamp tax applies to a wide range of documents, including, financial statements, and payrolls. Stamp tax is levied as a percentage of the value stated on the agreements at rates varying between 0.189% and 0.948%. Salary payments are subject to stamp tax at a rate of 0.759% over the gross amounts.

From 1 March 2020, Turkey levies a "Digital Service Tax" of 7.5% on service providers whose revenue derived from digital services during the previous fiscal year exceeds TRY 20 million in Turkey or EUR 750 million worldwide. The president is authorized to double the rate or reduce it to 1%, depending on the type of digital service.

A banking and insurance transaction tax applies at a general rate of 5% on bank and insurance charges. A Resource Utilisation Support Fund applies on foreign currency denominated loans at varying rates according to their maturity, as well as on TRY denominated loans with a maturity of less than a year. Foreign exchange purchases from banks, insurance companies, and foreign exchange offices, are subject to a 0.2% rate.
Other taxes include a tourism share (levied at TRY 2 and TRY 7.5 per TRY 1,000 of total net sales and leasing income) and an accommodation tax ( set at 2%, but the implementation of the tax has been postponed to 2023 due to the COVID-19 crisis).

Social security contributions for both the employer and the employee total 34.5% of an employee’s salary; 14% paid by the employee and 20.5% by the employer. In addition to social security payments, unemployment contribution is 3% of the salary, 1% for the employee and 2% for the employer. The monthly social security ceiling is TRY 37,530 for the period running from 1 January to 31 December 2022; with a minimum base of computation of TRY 5,004.

Other Domestic Resources

Revenue Administration

Doing Business: Turkey, to obtain a summary of taxes and mandatory contributions

Tax Rate

Allowable Deductions and Tax Credits

For individual employees, no business deductions are permitted. Contributions to approved pension schemes within Turkey are allowed for deductions.

Donations to specific institutions are tax-deductible. Individuals paying their taxes via annual tax returns can deduct their documented education expenses incurred in Turkey by themselves and their families from income declared on the tax return, up to 10% of the income tax base. Personal insurance premiums (for self, spouse, and/or children) are deductible but are limited to 15% of the individual's monthly gross income and annual minimum wage amount.

For business income, the same general deductions as apply to corporations are available.

Special Expatriate Tax Regime

Individual residents are taxed on worldwide income while non-resident individuals are only taxed on income derived in Turkey. There is no special tax regime for expatriates.