Monthly compliance checklist for foreign-owned companies in Türkiye

Every month

• Payroll run and payslips; salaries paid through the bank.

• Withholding and social security return (muhtasar ve prim hizmet beyannamesi) and payment — by the 26th of the following month. Covers payroll income tax, stamp tax on salaries, social security premiums and withholding on rent, freelancers and payments abroad.

• Reverse-charge VAT return (KDV-2) and payment — by the 25th of the following month, for services bought from abroad. The VAT can be deducted on the KDV-1 only once the KDV-2 has been paid.

• VAT return (KDV-1) and payment — by the 28th of the following month.

• e-Ledger (e-defter) — upload of ledgers and approval certificates within the legal period after month-end.

• e-Invoice and e-Archive — invoices issued on time and matched with the ledger.

• Bank and intercompany reconciliations, including foreign-currency revaluation.

Every quarter

• Advance corporate tax return and payment for all four quarters — by 17 May, 17 August, 17 November and 17 February of the following year. Include the domestic minimum tax check.

• Management accounts for head office, often converted to IFRS or group accounting policies.

Every year

Events that trigger extra filings

• New employee or leaver: social security entry or exit declaration before or at the event.

• Change of address, managers, capital or business purpose: trade registry and tax office notifications.

• Payments abroad: withholding and reverse-charge VAT checks before paying.

• Dividends: general assembly resolution and 15% withholding for non-resident shareholders (treaty may reduce).

Common penalties to avoid

• Late filing and late payment interest on every return.

• Special irregularity fines for invoices not issued or e-documents not sent on time.

• Social security fines for late employee registrations.

Frequently asked questions