15 Steps to Complete After Company Incorporation in Turkey: The Complete Checklist

Company formation in Turkey may look complete once the Trade Registry issues the registration, but that’s really just the beginning. Fifteen follow-up steps must be completed afterward — some of them time-sensitive and subject to administrative fines. The minimum capital increase requirement we covered earlier can also apply to this list for existing companies. In this article, we summarize the 15 steps that must be completed after incorporation and the deadlines to watch for.

Two Critical Steps With Deadlines and Penalties

Among the 15 steps, two stand out because missing their deadline directly triggers an administrative fine:

• E-Notification Application: must be filed with the relevant tax office within 15 days of incorporation.
• Ultimate Beneficial Owner Declaration Form: must be submitted electronically via the Digital Tax Office within 1 month of establishing tax liability. This declaration then becomes an annual obligation, due again by August 31 each year. An administrative fine applies for each declaration not filed on time.

15 Steps to Complete After Incorporation

1. Sign the TÜRMOB and GİB agreements — the accounting services agreement and the electronic tax return filing agency agreement.
2. Obtain a signature circular — granting authorization to relevant persons for financial transactions.
3. Obtain Digital Tax Office login credentials.
4. Generate the tax certificate (vergi levhası) — via the online tax office.
5. File the e-notification application — within 15 days of incorporation.
6. File the Ultimate Beneficial Owner Declaration Form — within 1 month of incorporation.
7. File the e-ledger application.
8. Apply for a financial seal (mali mühür) — a priority step, since e-invoice and e-ledger applications require it.
9. Declare stamp duty on the lease agreement and the TÜRMOB agreement.
10. Activate UETS (National Electronic Notification System).
11. Obtain a KEP (registered electronic mail) address (optional) — issued by the PTT Directorate.
12. File the SGK (Social Security) notification application.
13. File the e-invoice application (optional, together with the financial seal).
14. Obtain e-signatures for partners if the resolution book is kept electronically.
15. Open an SGK file and obtain login credentials (if the company will employ staff).

Why Does This Matter So Much?

Some of these steps are interdependent — for example, the e-invoice and e-ledger applications cannot be filed without the financial seal, so getting the sequence right avoids wasted time. Missing either of the two time-sensitive steps (e-notification, beneficial owner declaration) results directly in an administrative fine — and since the beneficial owner declaration is an annual recurring obligation, this deadline needs ongoing tracking, not just a one-time check.

Recommendations for New Company Owners

• As soon as incorporation is registered, add the time-sensitive steps (e-notification, beneficial owner declaration) to your calendar.
• Apply for the financial seal early, since your e-invoice and e-ledger processes depend on it.
• Consider completing optional steps (KEP, e-invoice) early too, in case they become mandatory for your business in the future.
• If you plan to hire staff, complete the SGK file setup before the employee’s start date.
• Turn the full list into a checklist with your CPA and track it step by step.

At Mete CPA & Auditing, we support newly established companies in completing all 15 steps fully and on time, and in tracking recurring statutory deadlines. Contact us to review your situation.