Guides
Living in Turkey as a foreigner: guides to tax, salary, pensions and banking
This page covers money only: salary, tax, social security, pensions, rent and banking in Turkey, explained in English from official sources, with calculators for your own figures. Visas and residence permits are not covered.
Short answer: Foreigners living in Turkey usually need a tax number and a bank account first, then want to know what is deducted from a salary, how severance and pensions work, and which rent, VAT and property rules apply. Amounts change often, so each guide dates its figures and names the official source.
If you have just moved, start with the tax number and the bank account. Salary, social security and severance come next, then rent, property and VAT. For the latest inflation, policy rate and minimum wage figures in one place, see Turkey economic data.
These guides are general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules can differ for residents and non-residents, so check your home-country treatment and ask a licensed adviser about your own situation. Residence permits, visas and citizenship are separate and are not covered here.
- If you have just arrived
- Income tax for foreigners
- Salary, social security and leaving a job
- Property and rent
- VAT and crypto tax
- Running a business
- At a glance
- Calculators
If you have just arrived
The first steps most foreigners ask about, starting with a tax number and a bank account.
- Turkish tax number for foreigners: how to get oneUpdated November 5, 2026 · 11 min readHow foreigners get a Turkish tax number (vergi kimlik numarası) online or at a tax office, when the foreign ID number replaces it, and what it is used for.
- Bank account in Turkey for foreigners: what you needUpdated November 5, 2026 · 11 min readCan a foreigner open a bank account in Turkey? The legal ID, address and tax number rules, remote onboarding, IBAN format and TMSF deposit insurance in 2026.
- Bringing cash to Turkey: what Decree 32 and customs sayNovember 6, 2026 · 13 min readBringing cash to Turkey: no limit on entry, declare above TRY 185,000 or EUR 10,000 on exit, what must go through banks, seizure rules and property buyers.
- Turkish lira symbol and code: ₺, TRY, notes and formattingNovember 6, 2026 · 12 min readTurkish lira symbol and code: ₺ (U+20BA), ISO code TRY and 949, TL rules, keyboard shortcuts, font gaps, formatting, old TRL and YTL, notes and coins.
- Turkish central bank exchange rate: times, columns, tax useNovember 6, 2026 · 11 min readTurkish central bank exchange rate explained: the 15:30 indicative rates, forex and banknote columns, the Gazette rate VAT uses and the official files.
Income tax for foreigners
How income tax works in Turkey: the brackets, who is taxed on what, and the rules that can change the answer for foreigners.
- Turkey tax rate 2026: a map of every main tax for foreignersNovember 6, 2026 · 12 min readTurkey tax rate map for 2026: income tax 15% to 40%, VAT 20%, corporate tax 25%, dividend, deposit, property, title deed, stamp, vehicle and inheritance tax.
- Turkey income tax brackets 2026 and the 2027 updateUpdated November 5, 2026 · 12 min readTurkey income tax brackets for 2026: rates from 15% to 40%, wage thresholds, who is taxed, a gross-to-net salary example and how the 2027 brackets are set.
- Turkey tax year and filing deadlines: dates, portals, codesNovember 6, 2026 · 13 min readTurkey tax year is the calendar year. GİB's filing dates for individuals, the March 2027 window, which portals have English, and what tax code really means.
- Tax residency certificate Turkey: rules, form and stepsNovember 6, 2026 · 13 min readTax residency certificate Turkey: the six-month rule, why 183 days is treaty language, who issues the mukimlik belgesi, its fields and how a payer uses it.
- Turkey new tax regime: Art. 20/D foreign income exemptionNovember 6, 2026 · 13 min readTurkey new tax regime: the 20-year foreign income exemption in Art. 20/D. Who qualifies, the 31 December 2026 deadline, what stays taxable, what is unsettled.
- Turkey freelancer tax and digital nomad tax: who owes whatNovember 6, 2026 · 13 min readTurkey freelancer tax and digital nomad tax: where work is done decides. Six-month rule, Article 23/14, GİB rulings on remote work, Bağ-Kur and software relief.
- Turkey tax treaties: list, rates and claiming treaty reliefNovember 6, 2026 · 13 min readTurkey tax treaties: where to find GİB's list, caps on dividends, interest and royalties for key countries, and how to claim relief or recover excess tax.
- Double taxation agreement UK and Turkey: rent and pensionsNovember 6, 2026 · 13 min readDouble taxation agreement UK and Turkey in plain English: rent, property gains, pay, the 183-day test, pensions, interest caps, relief and what it leaves out.
Salary, social security and leaving a job
The minimum wage, SGK contributions, severance and retirement.
- Turkey minimum wage 2026: gross, net and 2027 decisionUpdated November 5, 2026 · 10 min readTurkey minimum wage 2026: TRY 33,030 gross and TRY 28,075.50 net a month, daily and hourly rates, euro and USD values, employer cost and the 2027 process.
- Average salary in Turkey: official data, not crowd estimatesNovember 6, 2026 · 13 min readAverage salary in Turkey from TÜİK: TRY 39,252.88 gross monthly earnings in 2024 by sector and firm size, 2023 by region, what it omits and how to convert it.
- Turkey social security: SGK contributions and agreementsUpdated November 5, 2026 · 10 min readTurkey social security explained: what the SGK number is, 2026 contribution rates and limits, foreign employees, the 35 bilateral agreements and health cover.
- Turkey payroll: employer cost, SGK and monthly filingsNovember 6, 2026 · 13 min readTurkey payroll for foreign employers: 23.75% employer SGK, the 2- and 5-point cuts, a line-by-line cost example, return due dates, severance and EOR limits.
- Turkey severance pay: eligibility, ceiling, calculationUpdated November 5, 2026 · 11 min readTurkey severance pay explained: who qualifies, 30 days' pay per year, the TRY 73,729.87 ceiling for late 2026, tax, notice periods and a worked calculation.
- Turkey pension age and state pension amounts explainedUpdated November 5, 2026 · 12 min readTurkey retirement age by first insurance date, how the SGK state pension is calculated, TRY 23,552 minimum, January and July increases and rules for foreigners.
Property and rent
The legal cap on rent increases, and the taxes and fees on owning, buying and selling property.
- Can foreigners buy property in Turkey? Law, steps and limitsNovember 6, 2026 · 13 min readCan foreigners buy property in Turkey? Yes, if their country is on the President's list: 30-hectare and 10% limits, the currency certificate and TKGM's steps.
- Turkey property tax, title deed fee and sale taxUpdated November 5, 2026 · 11 min readHow much is property tax in Turkey in 2026, when it is due, the 2% title deed fee, TKGM and DASK costs, and income tax on selling property within five years.
- Turkey rent increase cap: the 12-month CPI averageUpdated November 5, 2026 · 11 min readTurkey's legal rent increase limit: 31.23% for November 2026 renewals, how the 12-month CPI average works, the end of the 25% cap and foreign-currency rents.
- Rental income tax Turkey: exemption, filing, non-residentsNovember 6, 2026 · 13 min readRental income tax in Turkey for foreign owners: TRY 58,000 exemption for 2026, 15% lump-sum expenses, March 2027 filing, tenant withholding, non-resident rules.
- Capital gains tax Turkey: property, shares, non-residentsNovember 6, 2026 · 13 min readCapital gains tax in Turkey: no separate tax, but property sold within five years is taxed at 15% to 40% after indexing and a TRY 150,000 exemption for 2026.
- Inheritance tax Turkey 2026: gift tax, rates and foreignersNovember 6, 2026 · 13 min readInheritance tax in Turkey 2026: TRY 2,907,136 exemption per child or spouse, rates of 1% to 10%, gift tax of 10% to 30%, and deadlines of 4, 6 or 8 months.
VAT and crypto tax
VAT rates and tourist refunds, and what applies to crypto gains as of the date in the guide.
- Turkey VAT rate and VAT refunds for touristsUpdated November 5, 2026 · 11 min readTurkey VAT rates of 20%, 10% and 1%, with calculations, hotel VAT and accommodation tax, the VAT number and the tourist refund rules as of October 2026.
- Turkey VAT number check: verify a Turkish company's tax IDNovember 6, 2026 · 11 min readTurkey VAT number check: the 10-digit tax ID, why VIES fails, what GİB shows with and without a login, and how to find a company in the trade register.
- Turkey crypto tax: what applies as of November 2026Updated November 5, 2026 · 11 min readTurkey crypto tax as of 3 November 2026: no crypto-specific tax in force, what the removed March 2026 bill proposed, general rules, residents and non-residents.
Running a business
Setting up a company, invoices and withholding on services.
- Company formation in Turkey: Ltd vs A.Ş., capital and stepsNovember 6, 2026 · 13 min readCompany formation in Turkey for foreign founders: Ltd, A.Ş. or branch, TRY 50,000 and 250,000 capital, MERSİS steps, tax numbers, E-TUYS filings, yearly duties.
- Turkey e-invoice requirements: e-Fatura, e-Arşiv, UBL-TRNovember 6, 2026 · 13 min readTurkey e-invoice rules as of Nov 2026: e-Fatura and e-Arşiv thresholds, 1 January 2027 change, connection routes, 8-day cancellation and a tested UBL-TR sample.
- Turkey withholding tax on services: rates and treaty reliefNovember 6, 2026 · 13 min readTurkey withholding tax on services paid abroad: the 20% heads, GİB rulings on software, muhtasar filing, gross-up math and treaty relief with Forms 1 to 3.
Main taxes at a glance
A summary of the guides named in each row, as of 5 November 2026. Foreigners pay the same rates as citizens; what changes is the base. Check the date in each guide before you rely on a figure. The Turkey tax rate guide covers the other main taxes.
| Tax | Who pays | Rate | Read |
|---|---|---|---|
| Income tax | Residents on worldwide income; non-residents on income earned in Turkey | 15% to 40%, by band | Income tax brackets |
| VAT | Buyers, inside the price | 20% standard; 10% and 1% on listed items | VAT and tourist refunds |
| Property tax | Owners, each year | 0.1% of the tax value for homes; 0.2% in metropolitan municipalities | Property tax |
| Dividend withholding | Individuals and non-resident companies | 15% of the gross dividend | Dividend tax |
| Deposit interest withholding | Depositors, resident or not | Lira accounts 10% to 17.5% by term; foreign currency 25% | Deposit rates and tax |
Calculators
- Turkey salary calculator 2026: gross to net and net to grossEnter a gross or net monthly salary and the month to see SGK contributions, income tax, stamp tax, net pay and the employer's cost under the 2026 rules. Free, no sign-up required.
- Turkey tax calculator 2026: income tax by bracketEnter an annual taxable income and choose wages or other income to see the income tax under the 2026 tariff, the average rate, the top rate reached and the tax in each bracket. Free, no sign-up required.
- Turkey severance pay calculator 2026: ceiling and net payEnter the gross monthly pay with regular benefits and the length of service in years, months and days to see the pay used, gross severance pay, stamp tax and the net amount. Free, no sign-up required.
- Turkey notice pay calculator: notice period and net payEnter the gross monthly pay with regular benefits, the length of service and the month of payment to see the notice period, gross notice pay, income tax, stamp tax and the net amount. Free, no sign-up required.
- Annual leave Turkey: entitlement and leave pay calculatorEnter the start date, the calculation date and, for the age rule, the date of birth to see the leave for the latest year of service, the total and unused leave, the next entitlement date and the gross pay for unused days. Free, no sign-up required.
- Overtime pay in Turkey: 1.5x calculator and 270-hour capEnter the gross monthly salary, the overtime hours and the month of payment to see the normal and overtime hourly rates, the gross pay for overtime, extra hours and public holiday work, the deductions on it and the net extra pay. Free, no sign-up required.
- Maternity leave Turkey: 24 weeks and SGK pay calculatorEnter the earnings and premium days of the 12 months before the birth and the type of pregnancy to see the daily earnings, the daily allowance SGK pays and the total for 168 or 182 days. Free, no sign-up required.
- Turkey rent increase calculator 2026: new rent and legal capEnter the current monthly rent and the increase rate to see the new rent, the monthly increase and the extra rent over the lease year. Free, no sign-up required.
- Turkey property tax calculator 2026: rates and installmentsChoose the property type and location, enter the 2026 tax value and, if you have it, the 2025 value to see the annual property tax and each installment. Free, no sign-up required.
- Turkey title deed fee calculator: buyer and seller feesEnter the declared sale price and the fee rate to see the title deed fee for the buyer and the seller, and add the land registry service fee for the total cost. Free, no sign-up required.
- Turkey VAT calculator: add or remove 20%, 10% or 1% VATEnter either the price before VAT or the price including VAT, and the rate, to see the VAT amount and the other price. Free, no sign-up required.
- Turkey tax ID format: VKN and TCKN check digit validatorPaste a 10-digit Turkish tax number or an 11-digit identity number to see whether its length and check digits are well formed. The check runs in your browser; nothing is sent or stored. Free, no sign-up required.
- Turkey IBAN format checker: length, check digits, bank codePaste a Turkish IBAN to check its length, country code, check digits and reserved digit, and to see the bank code and the account field. The check runs in your browser; nothing is sent or stored. Free, no sign-up required.
- Loan interest rate Turkey: calculator with KKDF and BSMVChoose the loan type, which fills in the KKDF and BSMV rates, and enter the amount, the monthly interest rate and the term to see the monthly installment, the total repayment, the interest and taxes in it and the compound annual cost. No bank offers are shown. Free, no sign-up required.
- Turkey gold price per gram calculator: carats and coinsThis page has no live price: type the price of 1 gram of 24-carat gold yourself. With the weight and fineness of an item it shows the fine gold inside and its value, the 22, 18 and 14 carat price per gram, and the quarter, half, full and Ata coins by the Turkish Mint's weights. Free, no sign-up required.
From Fincode
Frequently asked questions
Do foreigners need a Turkish tax number?
Many everyday steps, such as opening a bank account, ask for one. Foreigners without a foreign identity number can request a 10-digit tax number from the Revenue Administration (GİB). Those who hold a foreign identity number use it as their tax number. Having a tax number does not by itself make anyone a Turkish taxpayer.
Do foreigners pay income tax in Turkey?
Yes, on the same tariff as citizens. A foreigner who is domiciled in Turkey or stays for more than six months continuously in a calendar year is generally taxed on worldwide income, while a non-resident is taxed only on income earned in Turkey.
These guides are general information, not investment, legal or tax advice. Amounts, rates and rules in Turkey change often: check the date given for each figure and the official source before you rely on it, and ask a licensed adviser about your own situation.
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