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Article 13 gives the strongest long-term signal for the Istanbul Financial Centre. The proposal extends the 100% corporate tax deduction period for financial institutions holding an IFC participant certificate from 2031 to 2047. It also increases the exemption period for financial activity fees related to establishment and permits from 5 years to 20 years. The year 2047 is striking. This is not just a tax date. It is a policy commitment stretching across almost a generation.

Article 12 shows that the Istanbul Financial Centre is being designed to attract not only companies, but also people. The provision expands the income tax advantage available to personnel with foreign experience. This matters because a financial centre is not built only with buildings and licences. A real financial centre is built with: fund managers, risk specialists, lawyers, compliance teams, fintech professionals, and data and technology teams. Through this amendment, Tür

Article 11 is highly important for technology startups. The proposal facilitates investment through convertible debt agreements for non-public companies holding a technostartup badge. It also introduces chamber registration and fee exemptions for certain digital companies. This means Türkiye is moving closer to the global startup financing language. Globally, convertible notes and SAFE-like instruments are widely used in early-stage investments. They create a quick bridge bet

Article 10 is likely to become one of the most debated provisions of the proposal. It allows individuals and legal entities to bring money, gold, foreign currency, securities and other capital market instruments held abroad into Türkiye until 31 July 2027. It also allows certain assets already located in Türkiye but not recorded in statutory books to be declared. The standard tax rate is 5%. However, if the declared assets are committed to term deposits, government domestic d

Article 8 is one of the strongest provisions of the proposal for production and exports. Under the proposal, manufacturing companies directly exporting the goods they produce would be taxed at 9% on profits derived from such exports. Other exporting companies would be taxed at 14% on profits exclusively generated from export activities. These rates show that Türkiye wants to give special support to foreign-currency-generating activities. For manufacturing exporters, the 9% ra

Article 7 shows Türkiye’s intention to capture a larger share of international trade flows. Under the proposal, 95% of profits derived from goods purchased abroad and sold abroad without being brought into Türkiye, or from intermediary activities in foreign trade transactions, may be deducted from corporate income. For Istanbul Financial Centre participants, the deduction would reach 100%. This is different from traditional export incentives. The focus is not on physically br

Article 6 is one of the most strategic provisions of the proposal. The new model defines “qualified service centres” as capital companies that provide services to group companies operating in at least three different countries and generate at least 80% of their annual revenue from abroad. These centres may provide services in areas such as finance, strategy, risk management, legal support, human resources, data analytics, technology consulting, after-sales support and operati

Article 5 reveals the human capital dimension of the proposal. It introduces an income tax exemption for qualified personnel employed in qualified service centres. For qualified service centres operating within the Istanbul Financial Centre, the advantage is broader. This matters because in today’s economy, capital alone is not enough. The real value lies with the people who manage capital, build technology, design financial structures and run international operations. Throug

Article 4 is one of the most ambitious and likely most debated provisions of the proposal. Under the proposal, individuals who had no residence or tax liability in Türkiye during the previous three calendar years before becoming Turkish residents would be exempt from income tax on their foreign-source income for 20 years. This clearly shows that Türkiye is entering the global tax residency competition. The measure may be compared with Portugal’s former NHR regime, Italy’s spe

Article 3 is particularly important for technology startups. The proposal expands the income tax exemption for share-based incentives granted to employees of technostartup companies and makes the holding periods more practical. In the modern startup world, talent is not retained through salary alone. Developers, engineers, product leaders and early team members increasingly want to share in the company’s upside. That is why stock options and equity-based incentives are core t

Article 2 introduces a striking inheritance tax advantage for individuals benefiting from the foreign-income exemption regime. Under the proposal, inheritance transfers occurring during the exemption period would be taxed at a rate of only 1%. By Turkish standards, this is a very low rate. But the more important point is the strategic signal behind it. Türkiye is not only targeting investors. It is also targeting wealthy individuals, family wealth structures and international

The presentation delivered by the Minister of Treasury and Finance under the Strong Hub Türkiye program points to a noticeable shift in Türkiye’s economic direction. In many ways, the ideas themselves are not entirely new.What is different now is the clarity and structure with which they are being presented: positioning Türkiye not only as a growing economy, but as a regional hub. The Bigger Picture The overall message is fairly straightforward: Türkiye is looking to redefine

Recent developments in Türkiye’s economic policy indicate a broader transformation beyond traditional incentive frameworks. Rather than short-term measures, the current approach reflects a long-term positioning strategy aimed at redefining Türkiye’s role within global trade, capital, and financial flows. A Structural Shift The emerging framework is built on four core pillars: Increasing exports Attracting international capital Repatriating offshore assets Positioning Türkiye