Tourist tax in Türkiye A complete guide

Situated at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, Türkiye is renowned for its rich history, stunning landscapes, and vibrant culture. In our tax guide, we provide all the essential information about Türkiye’s tourist tax, including the rates, who is responsible for paying it, compliance requirements, and how to manage your obligations effortlessly.

Is there a tourist tax in Türkiye?

Yes. As of January 1, 2023, a new law was introduced, implementing a national tourist tax in Türkiye. This tax, officially known as the "Accommodation Tax," is on overnight services provided by various accommodation facilities, including hotels, motels, and holiday villages. Unlike a per-night fee based on hotel star ratings, this tax is calculated as a percentage of the accommodation cost, excluding Value Added Tax (VAT). 

For tourists

Why is there a tourist tax Türkiye?

Türkiye's tourist tax enhances services and infrastructure for a pleasant stay. Revenue supports parks, cultural sites, tourism promotion, safety, and sustainability. It preserves Türkiye’s natural beauty and heritage by funding maintenance of historical sites, ensuring it remains a welcoming destination for millions annually.

Rate of the tourist tax in Türkiye

You are considered a tourist if you stay overnight for a fee in a municipality where you do not live. If this is the case, the accommodation provider is required to collect a tourist tax from the guest(s), and remit it to the municipality where the accommodation is located.

Accommodation type	Tourist tax rate
All	2%

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Frequently asked questions from tourists

• Do I have to pay a tourist tax when staying in Türkiye?

  Yes, all visitors staying in paid accommodations in Türkiye must pay a tourist tax, officially known as the Accommodation Tax. This tax applies to overnight stays at various facilities such as hotels, motels, and holiday villages, regardless of age or nationality.

• How much is the tourist tax in Türkiye?

  In Türkiye, the tourist tax, known as the Accommodation Tax, is calculated as 2% of the overall accommodation bill, excluding Value Added Tax (VAT). 

• Do children have to pay the tourist tax in Türkiye?

  Yes, the tourist tax applies to all guests staying at accommodation facilities in Türkiye , with no specific exemptions mentioned for children in the current regulations

• Is the tourist tax included in the price of my accommodation?

  This depends on the hosts. Some may include the tourist tax in the overall booking price, while others might list it as a separate charge at checkout. It is advisable to check with your accommodation provider to confirm their policy.

• What is the tourist tax used for in Türkiye?

  The tourist tax in Türkiye funds public services, tourism infrastructure, and environmental and cultural preservation. The revenue maintains historical sites, improves facilities like roads and airports, and promotes sustainable tourism, ensuring Türkiye remains an attractive destination.

For hosts

Guest registration in Türkiye

Guest registration in Türkiye is guided by the Law on Foreigners and International Protection (No. 6458), enacted in 2013. This law mandates that all foreigners must register their place of stay, including at hotels, as part of the national address registration system (Adres Kayıt Sistemi-AKS). 

How Trippz can help you

Guest registration details in Türkiye

In the guest register in Türkiye, the following details have to be registered for both Turkish and foreign nationals:

• Full name
• Date of birth
• Nationality
• Dates of arrival and departure

Both Turkish nationals and foreign guests must provide valid identification documents, such as a national ID for Turkish citizens or a passport for foreigners, for verification and compliance with registration requirements.

Submission of the guest registration to the police in Türkiye

The personal details of the guests must be securely transmitted to the Turkish Police or Gendarmerie using the official digital platform known as the ID Reporting System (Kimlik Bildirim Sistemi), a database administered by the police. Hotels, motels, and guesthouses are required to submit these records daily, no later than 00:00 hours, to avoid administrative fines.

Storing of guest registration in Türkiye

The registered data must be retained for minimum of 6 months in accordance with the provisions of the data protection law, specifically the Law on Protection of Personal Data No. 6698 (KVKK). Although specific retention periods for guest registration data in hotels are not explicitly detailed in the law, they must conform to legal requirements for security and administrative purposes. Storage practices must comply with Turkish data protection regulations to ensure the security and lawful processing of personal information.

Handling of tourist tax

• Remittance of tourist tax

  Hosts in Türkiye are responsible for collecting and remitting the tourist tax, known as the Accommodation Tax, to the government. The tax must be declared and paid monthly to the Revenue Administration by the end of the following month. Providers are required to submit a Tourism Tax Declaration each month, maintain accurate records of the amounts collected from guests, and ensure timely payment to avoid fines or legal penalties.

• Storing your administration for tourist tax

  Hosts must maintain detailed records of tourist tax collections, including guest details, amounts collected, and data for monthly Tourism Tax Declarations. Records must be kept for 5-10 years per Turkish Tax Procedure Law and Commercial Code, complying with the Personal Data Protection Law (KVKK) for audits or inspections by tax authorities. 

• Tourist tax when renting through an online booking platform

  When renting through platforms like Airbnb or Booking.com, accommodation providers are still responsible for collecting the tourist tax. The tax must be collected from guests upon arrival or via the platform if supported. It's the provider’s duty to ensure compliance and to remit the tax to the government periodically.

• Short-term rental registration requirements

  In Türkiye, owners of short-term rental properties (up to 100 days) must obtain a Permit Certificate for Touristic Rental of Residence from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism under Law No. 7464, effective January 1, 2024. A permit number is assigned, to be shared on platforms like Airbnb and displayed on a Ministry-issued plaque at the property.                                                                           

  Owners must meet quality and safety standards, providing amenities like beds and bathrooms, and safety features like fire extinguishers. Unanimous consent from condominium owners is needed, unless in exempt high-quality complexes. Non-compliance fines start at 100,000 Turkish Lira, escalating if unresolved. This ensures transparency and a legal framework for tourist accommodations. 

• VAT on short-term rentals in Türkiye

  If you provide short-term rentals in Türkiye, defined as rentals for periods of up to 100 days, you are required to charge VAT on your rental income as it is considered commercial income. For all short-term rental transactions, the VAT rate is 20% (increased from 18% as of July 10, 2023). Unlike long-term rentals, which are exempt from VAT, short-term rentals necessitate registration for VAT with the Turkish Revenue Administration. You must submit monthly VAT declarations by the 26th of the following month and make the payment on the same day. Ensure you keep accurate records of all transactions and file your returns online through the internet tax office system to stay compliant.

Frequently asked questions from hosts

• Do I need to register my short-term rental property in Türkiye?

  Yes, for short-term rentals (up to 100 days), you must register with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism for a Permit Certificate. The permit number must be shared on rental platforms and displayed on a plaque at the property.

• What information do I need to collect from guests staying in my accommodation?

  You must collect each guest’s full name, nationality, date of birth, and dates of stay for the guest register. All guests must provide ID (passport for foreigners, national ID for Turks), submitted to the Turkish Police via the ID Reporting System.

• Are there any differences in the registration process for Türkiyen and foreign guests?

  No, the registration process is identical for Turkish and foreign guests. All must provide ID, and their details are submitted to the police via the ID Reporting System, regardless of nationality. 

• How long do I need to store the guest registration records?

  Guest data must be stored securely under the Law on Protection of Personal Data No. 6698 (KVKK). While not specified in tourism law, common practice suggests up to 2 years for compliance with security and administrative needs.

• What are the penalties if I don’t register my Short-Term rental property?

  Failing to register or comply with regulations results in fines starting at 100,000 Turkish Lira per property, escalating to 500,000 after 15 days, and up to 1,000,000 for repeated violations, plus potential suspension of operations.

Trippz: the authority on tourist tax

Tourist tax is set locally and rates change without warning. Trippz tracks every change and keeps the data current, which is why travel platforms and property software, including Airbnb, Booking.com and Expedia, rely on Trippz to calculate tourist tax and register guests in every market they serve.

How Trippz stays current

Trippz checks tax rules jurisdiction by jurisdiction against official municipal and national sources. When a rate or rule changes, the update happens automatically rather than on a periodic review cycle. This is the same monitoring that travel platforms and software vendors depend on to stay accurate everywhere they operate.

One tax engine, every market

Send a location, get the applicable rate, instantly and correctly calculated. Travel platforms and property software embed this calculation directly into their own product, so every booking is taxed correctly without building or maintaining a rate engine in house. It is the same logic behind every rate on this page.

Explore Trippz for Platforms

Frequently asked questions about Trippz

• How can platforms and software vendors use Trippz?

  Trippz provides tourist tax content and a ready made calculation engine through one API. Platforms and software vendors add accurate tax calculation to their product without maintaining a rate database in house. Guest registration and authority connections are available as a separate capability for those who need it.

• How does Trippz keep tourist tax rates current?

  Trippz checks the jurisdictions it covers against official sources and updates rates automatically when a city or country changes them.

  
  

• Which countries and cities does Trippz cover?

  Trippz maintains tourist tax data across a wide range of countries and cities. See the full overview in our tourist tax guides.

• Is Trippz's data and infrastructure secure?

  Yes. Trippz is SOC1 Type 2 and SOC2 Type 2 certified and GDPR compliant, so platforms and software vendors can embed tourist tax calculation without adding security or compliance risk of their own.

• Who uses Trippz for tourist tax?

  Trippz provides tourist tax data and calculation to travel platforms and property software across Europe, including Airbnb, Booking.com and Expedia. The same infrastructure that powers stays booked through the biggest platforms in travel is available to any platform or software vendor through the API.