An investment incentive certificate is an official document that allows an investor to benefit from the supports provided by the state for their project. With this certificate, the investor can benefit from important supports such as tax reduction, VAT exemption, and customs duty exemption.
Certificates are classified according to the nature of the investment, such as completely new investment, expansion, modernization, product diversification, integration, and relocation investments.
The main supports offered are; Customs Duty Exemption, VAT Exemption, Tax Reduction, Interest Support, Investment Place Allocation, Machinery Support (in certain programs), and Insurance Premium Supports.
A wide variety of sectors are supported, primarily the manufacturing industry, as well as tourism, mining, energy, IT, agriculture, education, health, logistics, and the defense industry. Sectoral priorities are determined especially within programs such as the Strategic Move, Priority Investments, Local Development, Target Investments, and Digital/Green Transformation.
Applications are made with an electronic signature through the Ministry of Industry and Technology's E-TUYS system. The project is evaluated according to the decree criteria, and a certificate is issued if found appropriate.
Although the application is made digitally via E-TUYS, the main documents that need to be uploaded to the system are:
For 2025, the fee varies according to the investment budget:
| Investment Amount | Fee Amount (2025) |
|---|---|
| Up to 5 million TRY | 8,500 TRY |
| Between 5 – 25 million TRY | 20,000 TRY |
| 25 million TRY and above | 40,000 TRY |
This fee can be paid via credit card, wire transfer, or EFT through the Ministry's Easy Collection System, and it is mandatory to upload the receipt to the system.
If there are no deficiencies in the application, the certificate is finalized within an average of 7–45 days. The validity period of the certificate generally varies between 3 to 6 years, and an extension can be requested if necessary.
It is not mandatory, but due to the complexity of the legislation and the importance of executing the process flawlessly, obtaining professional consultancy services is beneficial to prevent loss of rights.
Within the scope of the certificate, VAT exemption, customs duty exemption, stamp duty exemption, real estate tax exemption, and certain fee exemptions are provided.
The investor applies to the tax office with the incentive certificate and the approved machinery-equipment list. Based on this application, the tax office issues a "VAT Exemption Letter". This letter is presented to the supplier to make a VAT-free purchase.
The corporate tax reduction works by applying a 60% discount to the standard tax rate until the "investment contribution rate" (between 20% to 50%) specified in the certificate is reached. This allows the investor to pay lower taxes on their earnings for years.
The supplier company issues the invoice without VAT by including a statement such as “VAT-exempt transaction under the Investment Incentive Certificate”. The VAT exemption letter obtained by the investor from the relevant tax office must be presented to the seller for this transaction.
Yes, but it must be used in the investment for a period of at least 5 years from the invoice date. If a sale is desired before this period is over, permission must be obtained from the Ministry of Industry and Technology. In case of an unauthorized sale, the supports may be reclaimed.
After logging into e-Government, type “Investment Incentive Certificate Inquiry” in the search box. On the screen that opens, all details such as the current status, supports, and duration of the certificate can be viewed by entering the "Incentive Certificate No" and "Incentive Certificate ID" information.