Turkey — Ready Made Shelf Companies — Company Formation

Turkey — Ready-Made Shelf Companies and Company Formation

Turkey offers international entrepreneurs a Bridge EU/Asia, manufacturing, free zones-driven entry point. The Turkish Ltd. Şti. (limited şirket) is the dominant corporate form for SMEs, holdings, and trading entities — and we hold a stock of pre-formed, never-traded Ltd. Şti.s ready for immediate ownership transfer through the Türkiye Ticaret Sicili Gazetesi (TTSG).

ShelfCompanies24 has been arranging company formation and the transfer of pre-registered Turkish entities since 1995. We work with a network of Turkish corporate-service providers, accountants, and banks to deliver a single-invoice, start-to-finish service — whether you need your Turkey company ready in 48 hours or a brand-new one built from scratch in 5 days.

Why Turkey for Your Business

• Bridge EU/Asia, manufacturing, free zones — the structural reason serious operators choose Turkey over neighbouring jurisdictions.
• Predictable corporate law — Türkiye Ticaret Sicili Gazetesi (TTSG) provides public, searchable filings; ownership transfers are documented and binding.
• 2026 corporate tax: 25% — see the detailed tax breakdown below.
• Pre-formed Ltd. Şti. stock — clean TTSG-registered companies with no trading history, ready for a 48 hours ownership transfer.
• Remote-friendly — most Turkey corporate procedures can be completed without travel; we handle apostille, sworn translation, and digital signature.
• Corporate banking — introductions to local and international banks suitable for a Turkish Ltd. Şti., without the multi-month onboarding most foreign owners face when they apply alone.
• Single point of contact — your dedicated consultant manages incorporation, banking, accounting, and ongoing compliance for the whole life of the company.

Our Core Services in Turkey

Turkey Company Types at a Glance

Most Turkey clients choose the Ltd. Şti. (limited şirket) for the combination of limited liability, ownership flexibility, and predictable TTSG treatment.

Turkey Corporate Taxation 2026

The 2026 headline corporate tax position in Turkey is 25%.

25% CIT; EU Customs Union since 1995 for industrial goods; free-zone CIT exemptions.

VAT, withholding-tax, and treaty-network specifics are jurisdiction-dependent and best discussed in a free first call — your consultant will map your operational profile to the correct Turkish tax treatment before you commit to a structure.

Compliance and Reporting Obligations

• Annual financial statements — prepared under Turkish GAAP and filed with the TTSG on a calendar-year or financial-year basis.
• Beneficial ownership transparency — most modern jurisdictions, including Turkey, require beneficial-owner registration alongside the TTSG entity record.
• Tax registration — TTSG entry typically auto-registers the company with the Turkey tax authority; VAT/sales-tax registration is separate where turnover thresholds apply.
• Director and shareholder filings — changes to TTSG must be filed within statutory deadlines; we manage these end-to-end on retainer.
• Audit thresholds — small Ltd. Şti.s usually file abbreviated accounts; medium-sized and large entities meet local audit requirements (typically based on balance-sheet, turnover, and headcount thresholds).

Corporate Banking for Your Turkish Company

A Turkish corporate bank account is critical to operating the company — and one of the practical bottlenecks foreign owners hit when they apply directly. Our consultant introduces you to the right banking partner for your profile (high-volume international transfers, EUR/USD/GBP multi-currency, e-commerce processing, custodial, or simple operating-account-only).

A pre-formed Turkish Ltd. Şti. with clean TTSG entry typically passes bank KYC more smoothly than a newly formed entity, which is why operators in a hurry to begin trading specifically request a shelf company.

Cross-Jurisdiction Comparisons

Operators looking at Turkey often also evaluate similar jurisdictions:

• Compare Georgia corporate options — IT zone 5%, Tbilisi free zone, fast formation.
• Compare Cyprus corporate options — EU + 12.5% CIT, IP Box 80% deduction.

Why Choose ShelfCompanies24 for Turkey

• 30 years of experience — operating since 1995 across Turkey and 55 other jurisdictions.
• Licensed corporate-service provider with a dedicated Turkish desk.
• Pre-formed Ltd. Şti. stock — clean TTSG-registered entities ready for immediate transfer.
• Single fixed-fee invoice — formation, TTSG fees, virtual office, and bank intro bundled.
• Remote-only — most clients never travel to Turkey; we handle apostille, courier, and sworn translation.
• Post-formation support — accounting, VAT/tax filings, payroll, beneficial-owner register maintenance.

Frequently Asked Questions about Turkish Companies

How quickly can I start trading with a Turkish company?

With a pre-formed Turkish Ltd. Şti. the share transfer is documented and the TTSG update filed within 48 hours; you can sign contracts in the company’s name from day one. A newly formed Ltd. Şti. takes 5 days end-to-end because the Türkiye Ticaret Sicili Gazetesi and the tax authority each add their own processing time.

What is the difference between a Ltd. Şti. and a A.Ş. in Turkey?

Both are Turkish corporate vehicles registered with the TTSG. The Ltd. Şti. is the standard SME limited-liability form chosen by most operators. The A.Ş. is typically used for larger, capital-raising or listed structures. Most foreign owners arriving in Turkey pick the Ltd. Şti. unless they have a specific reason — listing plans, multiple investor classes, or a partner-structure preference — to choose otherwise.

Do I need to travel to Turkey to form or buy a company?

No. Turkey corporate procedures are remote-friendly through our consultant network. Documents are couriered, apostilled and sworn-translated where needed; signatures use either qualified electronic signature or notarisation in your home jurisdiction. We handle the TTSG interface end-to-end — most foreign clients never set foot in Turkey.

What taxes will my Turkish company pay in 2026?

The 2026 headline rate in Turkey is 25%. 25% CIT; EU Customs Union since 1995 for industrial goods; free-zone CIT exemptions. VAT/sales-tax, withholding-tax on dividends, and treaty-network impact depend on your operating profile — a free first call with our consultant maps your business model to the correct Turkish tax treatment.

Can a non-resident foreigner be the sole shareholder and director of a Turkish Ltd. Şti.?

In most cases yes — there is generally no Turkey residency, citizenship, or work-permit requirement for shareholders or directors. Some jurisdictions require a local-resident director, a registered local agent, or a substance test for tax purposes. Your consultant will confirm which requirements apply to your specific operating model and source-of-income profile.

Is a Turkish shelf company really ‘clean’?

All ShelfCompanies24 shelf entities in Turkey were incorporated solely to be held in reserve. They have never traded, never opened a customer-facing bank account, never invoiced a third party, and never accumulated tax losses — so the TTSG record shows pure dormancy. This avoids the loss-utilisation and beneficial-owner-disclosure complications that a real ex-trading company would carry.

Should I buy a shelf Ltd. Şti. or form a new one in Turkey?

Choose a shelf Ltd. Şti. from EUR 3,500 when you need to be trading immediately, when banking onboarding speed matters, or when a counterparty insists on dealing with an established legal entity. Choose new formation from EUR 2,000 when you want to design the constitution, share classes, or registered name from scratch and you can wait 5 days for the TTSG entry. Both options come with the same fixed-fee scope, banking introduction, and post-formation support.

What ongoing costs should I budget per year for a Turkish Ltd. Şti.?

A dormant Turkish Ltd. Şti. typically runs EUR 1,500–3,500 per year — covering registered office, the local accountant or tax adviser for nil filings, beneficial-owner-register maintenance, and any TTSG fees. An actively trading Ltd. Şti. budgets EUR 4,000–12,000 per year for full bookkeeping, periodic VAT/sales-tax filings, payroll, annual financial statements, and 25% corporate tax compliance. Your consultant gives an exact cost band based on your projected transaction volume and complexity before you commit.

Does Turkey have a public beneficial-ownership register?

Yes — like every modern jurisdiction, Turkey maintains a beneficial-ownership register that records every natural person controlling more than 25% of shares, voting rights, or profit distribution rights of a Turkish Ltd. Şti.. Filings are made at the same time as TTSG registration; updates are required when ownership changes. We handle the filing and ongoing maintenance as part of standard service so the register record remains accurate and penalty-free.