Dated March 2, 2026, the proposal amends multiple tax laws to bring crypto under a clearer fiscal regime. It sets out both an activity-based levy collected by platforms and an income-based withholding model for investor gains, while also defining how off-platform activity should be reported.
A 0.03% Crypto Transaction Levy Would Be Introduced
Under the bill, crypto asset service providers would be subject to a new “Crypto Asset Transaction Tax” on crypto sales and transfers they execute or broker. The taxable event occurs at the moment of sale or transfer.
The levy would apply at 0.03% (3 per ten-thousand), calculated on the sale amount or, for transfers, the fair market value at the time of transfer. The bill also states that no expenses or tax-type deductions can be applied to reduce the tax base.
Who Pays It and How It Would Be Filed
The taxpayer, as defined in the proposal, is the crypto service provider itself. Providers would file and pay the levy monthly, submitting the declaration by the 15th day of the following month.
In practice, although the legal payer is the platform, the economic burden could still be reflected in fees depending on commercial pricing, since the bill frames responsibility around collection and remittance rather than mandating who ultimately bears the cost.
Authority and Timing
The proposal gives the President authority to reduce the rate to zero or increase it up to fivefold, with implementation details to be set by the Ministry of Treasury and Finance. If enacted, the levy would take effect from the beginning of the second month after publication in the Official Gazette.
A 10% Withholding Tax on Gains for Licensed Platforms
The bill would also add a dedicated provision to the Income Tax Law to tax crypto-related gains generated on platforms subject to capital markets oversight. For transactions on such licensed platforms, the provider would apply a 10% withholding tax on relevant crypto gains and income.
Withholding would be calculated on a quarterly basis. The framework is designed to apply regardless of whether the income recipient is an individual or a legal entity, resident or non-resident, or otherwise exempt or non-registered under standard tax classifications.
FIFO Costing and Loss Offsets
To determine the withholding base, the proposal adopts FIFO accounting, meaning the earliest acquired units are treated as sold first. Trading commissions and the newly introduced transaction levy would be taken into account in the calculation.
If multiple trades occur in the same crypto asset within the same period, they would be treated as a single aggregated transaction for withholding purposes. Losses in the same crypto asset could be carried forward to offset future taxable bases, provided the offset does not exceed the same calendar year.
Moving Assets Between Platforms: Cost and Date Must Follow
When a crypto asset is transferred to another platform, the purchase cost and acquisition date would have to be communicated to the receiving platform. If an asset is transferred into a platform for the first time, the owner’s declared cost could be used only if it can be documented.
Reporting and Payment Calendar
Platforms would remit withheld taxes via a declaration to be defined by the Ministry of Treasury and Finance, filing and paying by the 26th day of the month following the quarter.
Rate Flexibility
The proposal authorizes the President to lower the withholding rate to zero or increase it up to double, potentially differentiating by income type, crypto asset category, holding period, acquisition date, and wallet type. The Ministry would also be empowered to define procedures and hold transaction parties or intermediaries responsible for payment where appropriate.
Off-Platform Activity Would Be Reported Through Annual Filing
For crypto transactions conducted outside licensed platforms, the proposal points to annual income tax returns as the reporting route. Losses from crypto activity would only be offset against crypto-derived gains, not other income categories.
The bill also places responsibility on intermediaries in off-platform arrangements: where they hold or receive relevant information and documents, they may be considered liable in assessment, and inaccurate or incomplete reporting could trigger tax assessment tied to the reporting party.
VAT Exemption Included
In a related change to the VAT framework, the proposal would introduce a VAT exemption for the delivery of crypto assets that fall under the new transaction levy regime.
Why It Matters
If adopted, the package would mark one of the most structured attempts to tax crypto in Türkiye: a platform-remitted transaction levy layered with quarterly withholding on licensed venues, while pushing off-platform activity into the annual filing system. The exact impact for users would largely depend on how platforms implement fees, how “transfer” is interpreted in practice, and how the Ministry’s secondary regulations define valuation and reporting mechanics.
