Ready-Made Shelf Companies in Turkey

Ready-Made Shelf Companies in Turkey (Hazır Şirket / Kurulu A.Ş. veya Ltd. Şti.)

When you need a Turkish company that can sign a contract this week, a ready-made shelf company — a “hazır şirket” or pre-registered Anonim Şirket (A.Ş.) or Limited Şirket (Ltd. Şti.) — is the fastest legal route into the world’s 17th-largest economy and the strategic Eurasian crossroads. ShelfCompanies24 maintains a live inventory of clean, never-traded Turkish entities registered in the Ticaret Sicil Müdürlüğü (Trade Registry), with paid-up capital and a clean Gelir İdaresi Başkanlığı (Revenue Administration) record. Most transfers complete in 5–10 working days.

Turkey combines a 25% standard CIT, EU Customs Union membership (since 1995, providing duty-free access to the EU single market for industrial goods), strategic position between Europe, Middle East and Central Asia, large domestic market (85 million population), and competitive labour and operational costs. Particularly suitable for European-Middle East-Central Asia corridor business, manufacturing for EU markets, and services to Turkic-speaking countries.

What is a Turkish Off-the-Shelf Company?

A Turkish off-the-shelf company is a Limited Şirket (Ltd. Şti.) or Anonim Şirket (A.Ş.) incorporated by a Turkish service provider purely to be transferred. From incorporation to sale, the company has:

• never traded — no invoices issued, no operations;
• never employed staff or registered with SGK (Social Security Institution);
• never opened an operational bank account beyond the capital deposit;
• filed only nil declarations with the Revenue Administration;
• active vergi numarası (tax number), Trade Registry number, and clean records.

Turkish Ltd. Şti. vs. A.Ş. — Which to Buy

Feature	Ltd. Şti. (Limited Şirket)	A.Ş. (Anonim Şirket)
Minimum capital	TRY 50,000 (≈ €1,500 at 2026 rates)	TRY 250,000 (≈ €7,500)
Members	1–50 ortaklar	1+ pay sahipleri
Governance	Müdür (managing director) + ortaklar kurulu	Yönetim Kurulu (board of directors)
Best fit	~85% of buyers — SMEs, holdings	Listed groups, capital-raising, banking sector

Key Benefits of Buying a Turkish Shelf Company

1. EU Customs Union access for industrial goods

Turkey has been in the EU Customs Union since 1995. Turkish industrial goods enjoy duty-free access to the EU single market. For manufacturing and industrial-export operations targeting EU markets, Turkish companies offer a cost advantage over EU peers while enjoying preferential market access.

2. Strategic Eurasian crossroads

Turkey’s geographic position connects Europe, Middle East and Central Asia. Turkish companies are well-positioned for trade and services across the broader Eurasian region.

3. Large domestic market

~85 million population, growing middle class, sophisticated consumer demand. Turkish companies operating domestically benefit from one of Europe’s larger consumer bases.

4. Active vergi numarası and Trade Registry record

Every Turkish ready-made entity carries an active vergi numarası and clean Trade Registry record visible at the relevant chamber of commerce.

5. Turkish banking

Garanti BBVA, İş Bankası, Yapı Kredi, Akbank, Ziraat Bankası, Halkbank, Vakıfbank all serve corporate clients. Turkish banking is well-developed for both domestic and international operations.

The Transfer Process — Step by Step

1. Select your shelf company

Live inventory: Ltd. Şti. and A.Ş. entities of various ages registered in Istanbul (most), Ankara, İzmir, Bursa or Antalya.

2. KYC + AML check

Turkish AML rules under Law No. 5549 are rigorous.

3. Vergi numarası for foreign principals

Foreign shareholders and müdürler need a Turkish tax number (yabancı kimlik numarası / vergi numarası) before completing the transfer. Issued via Turkish consulates or tax offices; we handle remotely.

4. Notarised hisse devri (share transfer)

Turkish corporate law requires share transfers in Ltd. Şti. to be notarised by a Turkish noter. A.Ş. share transfers can use simpler endorsement procedures depending on share-class structure.

5. Müdür / Yönetim Kurulu changes

Outgoing müdür/board members resign; new müdür/board appointed by shareholder resolution.

6. Articles amendment (esas sözleşme)

Name (unvan), registered office (merkez), business activity (faaliyet konusu) are amended. Notarised.

7. Trade Registry update

Filed with the relevant Ticaret Sicil Müdürlüğü via the chamber of commerce. Processing: typically 5–10 working days.

8. MASAK BO Register update

Beneficial owners updated in the MASAK (Financial Crimes Investigation Board) BO register.

Turkish Corporate Tax Environment in 2026

Tax	Rate	Notes
CIT — Kurumlar Vergisi	25%	Standard rate
VAT (KDV)	20% standard, 10% / 1% reduced	Mandatory above thresholds
Withholding tax on dividends	15%	0% under Parent-Subsidiary equivalent and DTTs
R&D incentives	Significant	R&D tax credits and Free Zone / Technopark regimes
Free Zones	0% CIT on qualifying activities	Specific Free Zone regimes (manufacturing, R&D)
EU Customs Union	Tariff-free industrial goods to EU	Major manufacturing advantage

Frequently Asked Questions about Turkish Shelf Companies

What is the Turkish term for a shelf company?

Hazır şirket (“ready company”) or kurulu şirket (“established company”). Pre-registered, never-traded Ltd. Şti. or A.Ş. held in reserve.

How fast can I buy a Turkish company?

5–10 working days from KYC.

Ltd. Şti. or A.Ş. — which should I buy?

Ltd. Şti. (Limited Şirket) for most SMEs — TRY 50,000 minimum capital, 1–50 members, simpler governance. A.Ş. (Anonim Şirket) for larger structures, capital-raising, regulated finance, IPO candidates — TRY 250,000 minimum capital. ~85% of foreign clients use Ltd. Şti.

Do I need to travel to Turkey?

No. Sign at any Turkish consulate, via Turkish e-imza electronic signature, or delegate to our Istanbul attorney via vekaletname.

What taxes will my Turkish company pay in 2026?

25% CIT. KDV (VAT) 20% standard. 15% withholding on dividends (0% to qualifying EU corporate parents).

How much does a Turkish off-the-shelf company cost?

Typical 2026 prices: fresh Ltd. Şti. with TRY 50,000 paid-in capital from approximately €2,500–€4,000 (including capital). A.Ş. substantially more reflecting larger capital. Contact our Turkish desk.

Related Services in Turkey

• Turkey overview — economy, Ltd. Şti., A.Ş., EU Customs Union
• Forming a new Turkish Ltd. Şti. or A.Ş.
• Turkish corporate bank accounts
• Alternative: Georgian LLC

Why Choose Turkey Over Comparable Jurisdictions

Turkey is one of several jurisdictions where ShelfCompanies24 maintains pre-formed entities and active formation services. Why pick Turkey for your Ltd. Şti. specifically? Bridge EU/Asia, manufacturing, free zones is the headline reason — but it pays to understand the trade-offs against the alternatives. Below are concrete differentiators that matter when you’re pricing a structure decision against the actual operating profile of your business.

• 2026 corporate tax rate: 25%.
• Formation timeline: 5 days for new incorporation, 48 hours for shelf-Ltd. Şti. transfer.
• Capital efficiency: ShelfCompanies24 starting fees from EUR 2,000 (formation) and EUR 3,500 (shelf) — well-priced against the equivalent service from Turkish accountants and lawyers approached directly, who typically operate hourly billing without all-in fixed-fee scoping.
• Banking access: our consultants pre-position your Ltd. Şti. with banks that accept the structure for your operating profile, rather than letting your application sit cold in an onboarding queue for 8-16 weeks.
• Strategic location: Turkey sits at a meaningful trade or treaty-network corner, which can move the after-tax economics of your structure compared to alternatives.

Substance, Pillar Two, and 2026 Regulatory Realities

Cross-border corporate structuring in 2026 is governed by a tighter web of rules than in any previous decade. Three forces shape every decision:

• OECD Pillar Two — global minimum effective tax rate of 15% on multinational groups with consolidated revenues above EUR 750 million. Where applicable, Turkey (like every modern jurisdiction) operates a Qualified Domestic Minimum Top-up Tax (QDMTT) so any top-up tax accrues locally rather than to a foreign parent jurisdiction. Smaller groups and standalone companies are out of scope of Pillar Two and continue under the regular Turkey tax regime.
• Beneficial-owner transparency — the Türkiye Ticaret Sicili Gazetesi (TTSG) and Turkey’s beneficial-owner register cooperate to maintain a current record of every natural person controlling more than 25% of shares, voting rights, or profit distribution rights of any Turkish corporate entity. We file the initial registration alongside incorporation and maintain it as part of the ongoing service.
• Substance expectations — passive holding companies face a reduced substance test; active income-generating activities face the full test (adequate staff, premises, and management presence in Turkey commensurate with the activity carried on). Your consultant maps your activity profile to the substance level needed before incorporation.

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

Common Pitfalls When Buying a Turkish Company

Issues we routinely see when prospects come to us after attempting the process directly with local providers in Turkey:

• Buying an unverified shelf entity — entities purchased through informal channels often have undisclosed director changes, dormant tax filings missed, or beneficial-owner-history gaps. We document complete dormancy on every entity we transfer.
• Paying for a name change after the fact — bundled into our fixed fee, but charged separately by many Turkish providers. Verify it’s included before committing.
• Banking refusal on transferred entities — happens when the share-transfer paper trail is sloppy. We notarise and file with the TTSG on the same day so the audit trail is clean.
• Tax-residency mismatch — buying a Turkish entity does not automatically make it Turkey-tax-resident if the management-and-control test fails. We brief on this before purchase, not after.

Additional Questions about Turkey Shelf Companies

Can I change the registered name of a Turkish Ltd. Şti. after acquisition or formation?

Yes. A name change is filed with the TTSG via a directors’ resolution and a routine filing — typically clears in 48 hours. We include up to one name change in the standard fee for both shelf-company purchase and new formation. Subsequent changes are billed at cost.

Will my Turkish Ltd. Şti. have access to EU/EEA double-tax treaties?

Turkey maintains its own bilateral double-tax treaty network (specifics vary by country). Your consultant maps the relevant treaties for your operating profile during the initial scoping. Note that all modern treaties have been updated under the OECD Multilateral Instrument with anti-abuse principal-purpose tests, so genuine substance and commercial purpose matter for treaty entitlement.

How does ShelfCompanies24 protect client confidentiality?

Client information is held under contractual non-disclosure plus the professional-secrecy obligations applicable to corporate-service providers in our home jurisdiction. We do not share client identity or transaction details with third parties beyond what is statutorily required (KYC reporting, beneficial-owner-register filings, AML/CTF reporting where triggered). Our internal access to client files is logged and access-restricted by need-to-know.

What happens if Turkey changes its corporate-tax regime materially?

Material tax changes (rate moves, new minimum-tax regimes, treaty amendments) get communicated to active clients with our analysis of impact. Where the change is structural — for example the OECD Pillar Two implementation in Turkey or a domestic tax-base reform — we proactively flag clients whose structures may need restructuring and offer a pricing-defined remedial path. The client is not left to discover material regulatory change from their accountant or from media reports.

Can a shelf Ltd. Şti. be backdated to look older than it actually is?

No — and you should not engage anyone who claims otherwise. The Türkiye Ticaret Sicili Gazetesi (TTSG) records the actual incorporation date, which is publicly searchable and immutable. The shelf Ltd. Şti.s we offer have honest incorporation dates ranging from a few months to several years old; for buyers who want a longer corporate trading history, we recommend purchase rather than fabrication, since fabricated history would expose you to fraud, tax-evasion, and money-laundering charges in any reputable jurisdiction.

Service Scope — What ShelfCompanies24 Delivers

Engaging us for your Turkish shelf Ltd. Şti. purchase covers the following deliverables under one fixed-fee proposal:

• Pre-screened Ltd. Şti. stock — clean entities with documented dormancy, transferable in 48 hours from KYC sign-off.
• Share-purchase agreement — drafted, executed, notarised where local statute requires.
• TTSG updates — director and beneficial-owner filings made the same day as the share transfer.
• Optional name and registered-office change — included in fixed fee, no extra cost.
• Tax-registration confirmation — verification that the existing tax ID transfers cleanly under your ownership; new VAT registration arranged if your activity profile requires it.
• Bank account introduction — same banking-partner network as for new formation.
• Beneficial-owner register update — your ownership recorded with effective date.
• 12 months of registered-office service — included from the transfer date.
• Digital handover pack — full corporate kit plus a documented dormancy declaration covering the period the entity was held in our stock.

The deliverable scope is identical regardless of whether you are based in the EU, the US, the UK, the Middle East, or APAC — we operate the same fixed-fee model globally for Turkish corporate setup. Optional add-ons (virtual office, accounting retainer, payroll, sector licences, transfer-pricing documentation) are quoted line-item separately so there is no scope creep on the headline incorporation or transfer fee.