TurkeyCompany formation, tax and banking

Why people choose Turkey

• Links Europe, the Middle East and Central Asia, with an EU customs union
• Quick company setup, and foreigners can own 100%
• Free zones offer company tax exemptions on export income
• Family citizenship through USD 400,000 of property kept for three years
• The passport makes you eligible for the US E-2 investor visa

Where Turkey fits

• Manufacturing and trade
• Citizenship by investment
• Regional headquarters

Where Turkey fits in a structure

Typical role · Manufacturing and trade base, or second citizenship

Turkey usually holds the real operating business: a factory, a sourcing office or a regional headquarters, with local staff and offices easy to find. Company tax is 25% and 10% is kept back on dividends, so the draw is the market, the location and the free zones, not a low rate. Separately, buying USD 400,000 of property and keeping it for three years can give your whole family Turkish citizenship, usually within four to eight months.

What it depends onIt needs real local operations and good local accountants because special inflation-accounting rules apply, accounts in several currencies because the currency moves a lot, and for citizenship the investment must be kept for three years and is checked by the ministry.

A simplified picture to explain the idea, not a recommendation. General information, not tax or legal advice.

Opening a bank account

Garanti BBVA, İş Bankası, Akbank and Yapı Kredi serve businesses and individuals, with dedicated desks for foreign investors. You need a Turkish tax number, and companies need notarised, apostilled company documents. The currency moves a lot, so accounts in several currencies are essential.

How tax works here

25% company tax, more for financial institutions. 10% kept back on dividends. Personal income tax rises to 40%. Free zones offer company tax exemptions on export income. VAT is 20%. Special inflation-accounting rules apply, so you need good local accountants.

Real presence, and who can see the owners

Company details are public in the Trade Registry Gazette. For citizenship by investment, you must keep the investment for three years, and the relevant ministry checks it. Turkey takes part in the international exchange of tax information (CRS). Building a real presence is easy, because local staff and offices are readily available.

When to choose it

Choose Turkey for manufacturing, sourcing and regional trade, for a family wanting a second citizenship quickly at a moderate cost, or as a step towards the US E-2 visa.

You get a written comparison, not a sales pitch.

Every Turkey recommendation comes as a written comparison with the alternatives — whether the setup will stand up to scrutiny, how easy banking will be, which tax treaties apply, who can see the owners, what it costs to run each year and the risk to your reputation — so you can see the trade-offs before you commit.