Turkey Tax Number (Vergi Numarası) for Foreigners: How to Get
Turkey tax number for foreigners: why you need it for property and bank accounts, how to get it online or at a tax office, and the 99 number.
The Turkish tax number (vergi numarası, or vergi kimlik numarası) is a 10-digit number issued to individuals by the Turkish Revenue Administration (GİB). For foreigners who do not yet have a residence permit or a foreigner identification number, it is the key to many administrative and financial tasks, from opening a bank account to registering a property purchase deed. It is free to get, and the only document required is a valid passport. You can get it online through the Revenue Administration's digital platform or in person at any tax office (vergi dairesi) in Turkey. In this article we explain what the tax number is, where you will need it and how to get it.
What Is a Tax Number and How Does It Differ from the 99 Number?
Foreigners in Turkey have two important numbers that should not be confused:
| Tax Number (Vergi Numarası) | Foreigner Identification Number (Yabancı Kimlik Numarası) | |
|---|---|---|
| Issued by | Turkish Revenue Administration (GİB) | Population registration system, after your legal status is registered |
| Number of digits | 10 digits | 11 digits, starting with 99 |
| When | Can be obtained even before residence | After a residence permit, work permit or other legal status |
| Main use | Financial and administrative tasks | Almost all everyday tasks, from banking to e-Devlet |
Put simply: someone who has just arrived in Turkey and does not yet have a residence permit needs a tax number for financial matters. After getting a residence permit and the 99 number, that number is enough for many tasks. Even so, keep your tax number certificate, because your earlier records, such as a bank account or a property deed, may have been registered under this number.
Where Do You Need a Tax Number?
Buying Property
Under clause 5 of Article 26 of the Land Registry Law (Tapu Kanunu, No. 2644), the official transaction deed records the tax numbers of both parties along with their identity details. So every foreign buyer must have a tax number before going to the land registry office (Tapu). Payment of the registration fees and other transaction costs is also made with this number. For the full purchase process, see the article Steps to Buy Property in Turkey for Foreigners.
Bank Account
Turkish banks ask non-resident foreigners for a tax number to open an account. A bank account is itself needed for buying property, paying installments and transferring money. You may already have read the details in the guide to opening a bank account in Turkey.
Other Tasks
- Paying the residence card fee and other costs related to a residence permit application
- Buying health insurance
- Registering a foreign mobile phone
- Subscribing to certain services, such as water and electricity, in some cases
Method 1: Getting a Tax Number Online
The Turkish Revenue Administration has a service called "Potential Tax Identification Number Application for Foreigners" (Yabancılar İçin Potansiyel Vergi Kimlik Numarası Başvurusu), now available on the Revenue Administration's digital platform (dijital.gib.gov.tr). The form also has English instructions.
- Go to the tax number application page for foreigners on dijital.gib.gov.tr.
- Fill in the form with your passport details: first name, last name, gender, place of birth, parents' names, country and passport number. If you do not have a foreigner identification number (99), leave that field empty.
- Enter your mobile phone number and your address in Turkey.
- Confirm that the information is correct and submit the application.
- The tax number is issued as an official letter in PDF format. Download and print it.
A few practical tips:
- Enable cookies and pop-ups in your browser so the PDF file can open.
- Enter dates in exactly the format the form asks for.
- Write your name exactly as it appears in your passport; the same spelling will later be repeated on the property deed and the bank account.
- Because the form asks for a phone number and an address in Turkey, several Turkish universities advise international students to apply after arriving in Turkey and getting a Turkish phone number.
Method 2: Visiting the Tax Office in Person
If the online system does not work or you prefer to apply in person, you can go to any tax office in Turkey. The documents you need:
- Your original valid passport
- A copy of the passport details page, or a notarized true copy of it
- A written tax number application, which is usually filled in at the office itself
According to the Revenue Administration's circular on tax numbers, foreigners who have no taxable activity but are required by regulation to provide a tax number can get a "potential tax number" from any tax office with these documents. This is usually done on the same day and costs nothing.
What Does a "Potential" Tax Number Mean?
The tax number foreigners get this way is called "potential" (potansiyel); in other words, you simply have a tax identification number, and merely getting it does not make you an active taxpayer or create any new tax obligation.
However, if you later carry out a taxable activity, for example renting out your property or selling it at a profit, you must file a tax return and pay tax as required by law. For tax on property sales, read the article Selling Property in Turkey as a Foreigner. Tax rules may change; before taking any action, check your situation with ALO TURKEY advisors or a tax consultant.
What If You Are Not in Turkey?
Many Iranian buyers want to buy with little or no travel. In that case, getting the tax number is usually one of the tasks your legal representative in Turkey arranges. If you plan to buy remotely, check with an advisor before the power of attorney is drawn up that it explicitly includes the authority to obtain a tax number and open a bank account. We explain the details in the article Buying Property in Turkey with a Power of Attorney.
Common Mistakes
- Different spellings of your name: If your name is written differently on the tax number, the bank account and the property deed, it can cause problems at the land registry office or the bank.
- Getting several tax numbers: If you already have a tax number, do not apply again; use the same number.
- Losing the certificate: Keep the PDF and printed copies in a safe place.
- Confusing it with the 99 number: These are two different numbers, and each has its own use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does it cost anything to get a tax number in Turkey?
No. Getting a tax number is free, whether online or in person.
Does having a tax number mean I have to pay tax in Turkey?
No. A potential tax number is only an identification number. A tax obligation arises only from taxable activities, such as rental income.
Is a tax number required to buy property?
Yes. Under Turkish land registry law, the tax numbers of both parties are recorded in the official transaction deed.
What is the tax number for after I get a residence permit?
After getting a residence permit, the 99 number is enough for most tasks, but keep your tax number certificate because your earlier records may be registered under it.
Free Consultation with ALO TURKEY
If you are preparing to buy property in Turkey and want to get your tax number, bank account and transaction documents ready without mistakes, the Persian-speaking advisors at ALO TURKEY are by your side. Get in touch via WhatsApp or our contact page.
Sources: Turkish Revenue Administration GİB (application form for a potential tax number for foreigners at dijital.gib.gov.tr, and internal tax number circular No. 2006/1); Turkish Land Registry Law No. 2644 (Article 26), as cited in circulars of the TKGM General Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre; Mondaq (September 2025); guides for international students at Sabancı and Uludağ universities; FFK Partner law firm on the foreigner identification number (2026). Information checked as of October 2026.