How to choose an accountant (SMMM or YMM) in Türkiye for a Ltd. Şti. with a foreign founder

Every Turkish Ltd. Şti. needs a licensed accountant, and for a foreign founder the choice is hard to judge from outside. This guide explains the difference between SMMM and YMM, what a written service contract (hizmet sözleşmesi) should contain, how the minimum fee tariff works, who is liable for what, which questions to ask, what warning signs to watch for and how to change accountant cleanly.

SMMM or YMM: who you need

The profession is regulated by Law No. 3568. A Serbest Muhasebeci Mali Müşavir (SMMM) is a licensed independent accountant who keeps the books, files tax and social-security declarations and advises the company. A Yeminli Mali Müşavir (YMM) is a sworn auditor whose work is audit and attestation. A small Ltd. Şti. normally needs an SMMM.

Before you sign, confirm that the person holds a current licence and is registered with a chamber of SMMM. Then put the same questions to every candidate, so that the answers can be compared side by side. Written answers are better than a phone call, because you can reread them later and show them to a partner.

• Have you worked with companies owned by foreigners?
• Who will actually handle our file: you or an employee?
• Which language and channel do you use, and how fast do you answer?
• Which accounting software and e-systems do you work with?

What the service contract must say

Under the fee-principles regulation issued under Article 46 of Law No. 3568, the fee contract must be in writing and state a specific amount; an oral agreement exposes the accountant to disciplinary action. Ask for a Turkish original and a translation, so that you understand every clause you sign.

A useful contract names the parties and the scope of work, so that nothing is left to assumption. Check that it covers the following points. Do not accept a vague promise to handle everything, because disputes usually start where the scope was never written down.

1. The monthly scope: bookkeeping, VAT and withholding returns, payroll and social security, annual returns.
2. Which services cost extra, such as amendments or inspections.
3. The fee amount and payment dates.
4. Document deadlines and each side’s duties.
5. Term, renewal, termination and handover of the files.

The TÜRMOB minimum fee tariff

The minimum fee tariff (asgari ücret tarifesi) is prepared under Article 46 of Law No. 3568 and published in the Resmi Gazete every year; the tariff for 2026 applies from 1 January 2026. It sets minimum fees by type of work, such as bookkeeping and company establishment, and an accountant may not accept work for less.

The tariff is only a floor. The real price is negotiated above it and depends on the activity, the number of documents and the staff involved. We do not quote amounts here because they change every year: read them in the current tariff on turmob.org.tr or in the Resmi Gazete.

• Is the quoted fee at or above the tariff minimum for this work?
• Is it fixed, or tied to the number of documents?
• Is payment monthly or in advance?

Liability, e-beyanname, e-defter, e-fatura

The company, through its legal representatives, stays responsible for its own tax and social-security duties; the SMMM answers for his or her own professional work. Under the social-security legislation the employer and the authorised accountant can be held jointly liable in some cases, subject to conditions such as a written authorisation and the accountant’s fault.

Ask who holds access to your digital filings. E-beyanname (tax returns), e-defter (electronic ledgers) and e-fatura (e-invoices) run through the Revenue Administration (GİB), and the accountant files on your authorisation. Keep your own record of what you authorised. A change of accountant should always be followed by a review of these authorisations.

• Who is authorised in the GİB system, and for which tax number?
• Who receives official notices?
• Do you get copies of each filed return and its receipt?

Red flags, document handover and switching

Treat the following as warning signs: a fee far below the tariff, no written contract, refusal to give copies of filings, invoices for transactions that did not happen, or answers only by telephone. One sign alone may be innocent, but two together are a reason to look elsewhere.

• No written contract or no fixed amount
• Filings you cannot see yourself
• Pressure to issue or accept doubtful invoices
• Weeks without an answer

Hand over documents on a fixed monthly date: invoices, bank statements and payroll data, with a receipt and your own copy. When changing accountant, give notice as the contract provides, settle fees due and ask for the books and filings to be handed over; the new SMMM signs a new contract and checks that filings are up to date.

Sources

• mevzuat.gov.tr — Law No. 3568 on SMMM and YMM (Article 46: minimum fee tariff) and the Tax Procedure Law (VUK)
• turmob.org.tr — TÜRMOB: annual minimum fee tariff and circulars
• gib.gov.tr — Revenue Administration: e-beyanname, e-defter, e-fatura
• lexpera.com.tr — consolidated copy of the regulation on SM/SMMM/YMM fee principles (mevzuat.gov.tr blocks automated access)

Questions