A practical guide for international companies operating in Türkiye or preparing to enter the Turkish market.
Key points
- A YMM (Yeminli Mali Müşavir) is a sworn financial advisor in Türkiye. Beyond advisory and review work, a YMM has the authority to certify (tasdik) financial statements, tax returns and transactions where the legislation provides for it.
- The profession is governed by Law No. 3568 on Independent Accountants, Financial Advisors and Sworn Financial Advisors.
- Certification means an examination backed by a signed and sealed report, not a formality. If a certification is wrong, the YMM is jointly and severally liable with the taxpayer within the scope of what was certified.
- A YMM does not keep the books: day-to-day accounting stays with an SMMM or the company’s own finance team.
- Foreign ownership alone does not make a YMM mandatory. What matters is what the company does: tax refunds, exemptions, exceptions and deductions.
What is a YMM in Türkiye?
YMM stands for Yeminli Mali Müşavir, a sworn financial advisor. In addition to financial consulting, reviews and reporting, a YMM is authorised to certify the financial statements, tax returns and transactions specified in the legislation.
The core legal basis of the profession is Law No. 3568 (3568 sayılı Serbest Muhasebeci Mali Müşavirlik ve Yeminli Mali Müşavirlik Kanunu).
For an international company in Türkiye, a YMM matters for two reasons: local tax obligations get assessed correctly, and certain tax transactions are examined and reported on by an authorised professional. This is especially relevant for tax refunds, exceptions (istisna), exemptions (muafiyet) and deductions (indirim). It does not mean, however, that every foreign-owned company must work with a YMM simply because it is international; the need depends on the company’s transactions and the applicable rules.
What is YMM certification (tasdik)?
Certification (tasdik) is the key power that sets a YMM apart from other accountants and financial advisors. It is not just signing or stamping a document, but examining it and formally concluding whether the certified information reflects reality.
The relevant regulation defines certification as examining the business and its documents for compliance and, based on the results, establishing by signature, seal and report whether the information within the scope of certification is true.
What certification is for
The aim is to ensure that accounts are kept so that they give accurate information and that the taxpayer files correct returns. Within this framework the regulation covers:
- taxes (vergi);
- exceptions (istisna) and exemptions (muafiyet);
- refunds (iade) and deductions (indirim);
- deferral (tecil) and write-off (terkin) of tax debts;
- offsetting of losses (zarar mahsubu).
What liability does a YMM carry?
Certification creates professional liability. The YMM is responsible for the accuracy of what they certify. If a certification proves wrong, the YMM may be held jointly and severally liable (müştereken ve müteselsilen) with the taxpayer for the resulting tax loss and penalties, limited to the scope of the certification. A YMM report is therefore a professional document issued under personal responsibility.
Why does an international company in Türkiye need a YMM?
In short: to make sure Turkish tax matters are assessed and documented correctly, and that transactions requiring certification go through an authorised professional.
1. Correct assessment of Turkish tax practice
Under the law, a YMM can advise on accounting, finance and financial legislation, examine books and documents, and prepare written opinions and reports. This helps the management of an international company assess its Turkish operations within the local legal framework.
The practical value goes beyond having accounting records in place: it is about examining how transactions are treated for tax purposes. In structures involving several countries, this work helps document the Türkiye-specific tax assessment clearly.
2. Documenting refunds, exceptions and deductions
YMM certification rules cover transactions that affect what a company pays or gets back, such as tax refunds, exceptions and deductions. Where the rules require a certification report (tasdik raporu), the YMM is not just an advisor but the authorised professional who carries out the examination and prepares the report.
The business value: refund and tax-incentive claims that are calculated correctly and documented in line with the rules support the company’s financial planning. A YMM report does not, on its own, mean that every refund or exception claim will be accepted automatically; the subject of the report and the conditions of the transaction are decisive.
3. A reviewed information base for management
A YMM’s review and reporting can help management assess the Turkish entity’s financial practices more systematically. For a parent company abroad, having the local tax assessment of its Turkish operations in writing is also useful.
But YMM certification has a defined subject and scope. A report should not be assumed to cover all of the company’s financial transactions, or its obligations in every country. The law states that even certified financial statements count as examined only to the extent of the certification.
How is a YMM different from an SMMM?
An SMMM (Serbest Muhasebeci Mali Müşavir) keeps the books and prepares filings; a YMM reviews and certifies but cannot keep the books. The distinction rests on Articles 2 and 12 of Law No. 3568.
| Area | SMMM | YMM |
|---|---|---|
| Keeping accounting books | Within the scope of the profession | Cannot keep accounting books |
| Preparing financial statements and tax returns | One of the core activities | Role is built on review, advice and certification within the relevant scope |
| Financial advisory and reviews | Yes | Yes |
| YMM certification under Law No. 3568 | No such authority | Can certify the matters and documents set by the legislation |
A YMM does not replace day-to-day accounting. The accounting processes run by an SMMM or the company’s finance team and the review and certification functions of a YMM should be treated as separate.
Does being international make a YMM mandatory?
Not automatically. Having a foreign shareholder or belonging to an international group does not, by itself, require a YMM for all transactions.
The assessment should be based on substance: which refund the company is claiming, which exception or deduction it uses, what is subject to certification and what conditions the relevant rule sets. A YMM’s value to an international company comes less from foreign ownership itself and more from the nature of its transactions in Türkiye and the tax needs they create.
Which official sources is this guide based on?
The basis is Law No. 3568 and the Regulation on Documents to Be Certified by Sworn Financial Advisors, Subjects of Certification and Procedures and Principles of Certification (Yeminli Mali Müşavirlerin Tasdik Edecekleri Belgeler, Tasdik Konuları, Tasdike İlişkin Usul ve Esaslar Hakkında Yönetmelik), as published by TÜRMOB. The law sets out the profession’s powers and liabilities; the regulation defines the purpose and scope of certification.
In addition, Türkiye’s Revenue Administration (GİB) runs the official e-YMM service, through which YMMs carry out cross-examinations (karşıt inceleme) digitally.
Frequently asked questions
Can a YMM keep our company’s books?
No. Law No. 3568 does not allow a YMM to keep accounting books. Bookkeeping is done by an SMMM or the company’s finance team; the YMM is engaged for advice, reviews and certification.
Does a YMM report guarantee a tax refund?
No. The report confirms the examined information within its subject. Whether a refund or exception claim is accepted depends on the conditions of the specific transaction and rule.
Does YMM certification cover all of a company’s activities?
No. A certified document counts as examined only to the extent of the certification. Other transactions and obligations, including those in other countries, are outside the report.
Do we need a YMM if our shareholder is foreign?
Not necessarily. The need is driven by the company’s transactions (refunds, exceptions, exemptions, deductions) and the requirements of the specific rules, not by where the capital comes from.
What is e-YMM?
An official GİB service through which YMMs conduct cross-examinations (karşıt inceleme) of counterparties digitally.
Related reading
- Accounting Requirements for Foreign Companies in Türkiye
- Accounting intern (stajyer) in Türkiye 2026: working under SMMM supervision
Source
This article is for information only and is not tax or legal advice. Whether YMM certification is needed in a particular case should be confirmed with a qualified professional based on the company’s transactions and the rules in force.