Quick answer
A monthly accounting checklist for companies in Turkey: sales, purchases, bank records, payroll, tax filings, e-documents and foreign shareholder reporting.
Companies in Turkey need a repeatable monthly document and review process. The practical requirement is not simply to “send invoices to the accountant”: sales, purchases, bank movements, payroll changes, contracts and cross-border evidence must be complete early enough for the applicable declarations and e-document processes.
Monthly Document Checklist
| Record group | What to provide | Common control |
|---|---|---|
| Sales | E-invoices, e-archive invoices, export invoices and cancellations | Sequence, VAT treatment and revenue cut-off |
| Purchases | Supplier invoices, expense documents and customs records | Business purpose, deductibility and VAT evidence |
| Banks | Statements for every TRY and foreign-currency account | Reconcile receipts, payments, fees and FX differences |
| Cash and cards | Cash log and corporate card statements | Match every movement to supporting evidence |
| Payroll | Joiners, leavers, leave, bonuses and benefits | Payroll cut-off and social security data |
| Contracts | New customer, supplier, loan, lease and related-party agreements | Withholding, stamp tax and transfer-pricing review |
| Corporate changes | Address, manager, shareholder or capital changes | Registry, tax office and other notification needs |
The company should agree an internal cut-off with its accountant. Missing records discovered on the filing day create avoidable amendment, penalty and cash-flow risk.
Monthly Compliance Is Company-Specific
VAT, withholding, payroll and social security obligations depend on actual transactions and employment status. E-invoice, e-archive and e-ledger duties also apply only when the company falls within the current legal scope. The Revenue Administration’s tax calendar should be checked for the relevant period rather than relying on an old static list.
Our Turkey tax filing calendar explains how to build a responsibility matrix. For e-document scope, see the e-invoice and e-ledger guide.
A Practical Month-End Workflow
- Close sales and obtain supplier records.
- Download all bank and card statements.
- Communicate payroll changes before payroll cut-off.
- Reconcile cash, receivables, payables and related-party accounts.
- Review unusual contracts, foreign payments and one-off transactions.
- Approve draft calculations and arrange payment before the applicable deadline.
- Archive supporting documents and management approvals.
Statutory ledgers under the Turkish Tax Procedure Law are not the same as a parent company’s IFRS or consolidation package. If headquarters needs management accounts, foreign-currency reporting or a group chart of accounts, define that as a separate deliverable and reconciliation layer. The Turkish accounting standards and IFRS guide explains how these reporting bases connect without replacing the legal books.
Responsibilities of Directors and the Accounting Firm
The accounting firm records and reports based on the information supplied, but management remains responsible for complete and accurate business records and timely decisions. A useful engagement assigns an owner inside the company, an accounting contact, document cut-offs and an escalation path for unusual transactions.
Review the full accounting services in Turkey decision guide and the factors that determine accounting fees for foreign companies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What records should a company send every month?
At minimum, send sales and purchase documents, every bank and corporate-card statement, cash movements, payroll changes, relevant contracts and details of corporate changes or exceptional transactions.
Does every company file the same monthly returns?
No. The filing set depends on transactions, employees, withholding situations, sector and e-document status. The company’s actual tax registration and activities determine the calendar.
When should documents be sent to the accountant?
Use an agreed internal cut-off well before statutory deadlines. Earlier delivery leaves time to resolve missing documents, VAT questions, payroll changes and cross-border issues.
Are scanned invoices enough?
That depends on the document type and applicable retention rules. E-documents should be retained in their legally required electronic form; other source records may require originals or prescribed electronic storage.
Is IFRS reporting part of Turkish statutory bookkeeping?
Not automatically. VUK statutory records and an IFRS or group reporting package serve different purposes and normally require a documented mapping and reconciliation process.
Build a Reliable Monthly Close
Celikel CPA can define the document calendar, statutory scope and headquarters reporting layer for your Turkish operation. Contact our English-speaking accounting team or review accounting services in Turkey.
