BDO Denet Monthly Report - February 2025

This article examines the Turkish tax identification process for foreign nationals and distinguishes an identification number from tax residence, liability and immigration status. It considers existing identifiers, application documents, official channels, representation, data consistency and the practical use of the number in banking and property transactions.

Türkiye has introduced a new tax incentive for individuals relocating to the country. With the Law No. 7582 enacted on 4 June 2026, a new Article repeated 20/D has been inserted into the Income Tax Code, creating a long-term exemption from Turkish income tax on foreign-sourced income. The implementing rules were published in Income Tax General Communique No.333. This article sets out the key features of the regime and highlights the practical considerations.

This article examines corporate taxation in Turkey from the perspective of foreign-owned subsidiaries, joint ventures and branches. It distinguishes tax residence, taxable profit, corporate income tax, domestic minimum tax, multinational top-up tax, VAT and withholding on cross-border payments

The analysis below addresses the issue of whether Articles 23/4 and 22/1/d of the Turkey/Italy and Turkey/Spain prevention of double taxation treaties offer a unique opportunity for cross-border financial structuring in relation to dividends, royalties and interest income.

This article examines the legal and tax framework for foreign businesses operating in Turkish free zones. It considers operating licences, corporate structure, customs treatment, manufacturing and service incentives, payroll relief, VAT, related-party dealings, premises, staffing and acquisition due diligence.

A brief on significant legal developments in Turkey.

In the current landscape of global commerce, from multinational enterprises to start-ups, investors are prioritizing jurisdictions that offer a compliant, stable, and fiscally advantageous environment for establishing their European Union (EU) operations.

Turkey has introduced a significant 20-year income tax exemption for foreign-sourced earnings of individuals who establish residency in the country. This comprehensive guide examines the eligibility requirements, application procedures, and critical conditions that must be met to benefit from this tax incentive designed to attract wealthy individuals and skilled professionals to Turkey.

The Presidential Decrees (the "Decrees") regarding the increases in particular government fees and taxes have been published in the Official Gazette No. 32241 and dated 7 July 2023.

We have explained the problems in the Turkish satellite platform market, stemming from the special communications taxes in our Mondaq article titled "Special Communication Taxes in Turkish Pay TV Markets: An Illustration of Legal Uncertainty".