How to Form a US LLC from Turkey (2026): Banks, Payments, Taxes

Yes, you can form a US LLC from Turkey fully online, from Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir or anywhere else, and Türkiye is in a better position than many countries: Mercury accepts Turkish residents. The gaps are elsewhere. PayPal has been gone since 2016, Wise stopped issuing account details to Türkiye-based customers in 2023, and Stripe has no Turkish entity. This guide explains how to open a US company from Turkey (people also search “Amerika’da şirket kurmak”) in 2026, how to bring dollars home, and what Turkish tax rules to check.

Why founders form a US LLC from Turkey

Turkish founders typically fall into a few groups: software developers and game studios selling to US and European clients; designers and agencies on Upwork and direct contracts; Etsy, Amazon and Shopify sellers exporting Turkish products such as textiles, jewellery and home goods; and SaaS founders who need a global payment processor.

Two local reasons stand out. First, payments: with PayPal unavailable and Stripe not operating in Türkiye, a US LLC with a US bank account is the usual way to apply for Stripe US and other processors that foreign customers trust. Local gateways such as iyzico and PayTR are excellent for lira sales inside Türkiye but are not built for a US company selling abroad. Second, currency: the lira has lost much of its value over recent years, and pricing and holding revenue in dollars inside a US company gives founders stability.

A US LLC does not change your tax residence. If you live in Türkiye, Turkish tax rules still apply to you.

Receiving money: getting USD into Turkey legally

Unlike many countries in this series, Türkiye has an open capital account. Residents can hold foreign-currency accounts (döviz hesabı) at any Turkish bank and receive dollars by SWIFT from abroad. Monetary policy is set by the TCMB, and the lira can move sharply, so many founders keep earnings in USD and convert only what they need.

From your LLC to your Turkish bank

The common path is: customers pay your LLC through Stripe US or by bank transfer; the money sits in the LLC’s US account (Mercury, for example); you pay yourself by international transfer into your USD account in Türkiye. Turkish banks may ask about the source of larger incoming transfers, so keep invoices, contracts and a record of distributions from the LLC. Avoid informal “döviz” channels and crypto off-ramps you cannot document.

What changed with Wise

Wise’s rules for Türkiye are strict. From 31 May 2023, customers with a Türkiye address cannot get new account details in any currency, and Wise has been phasing out receiving into existing accounts, with incoming payments returned to the sender. Restrictions follow the registered address and are checked separately for personal and business profiles, so a Wise Business account whose owner lives in Türkiye may also be limited. Wise also lists Türkiye among addresses without USD details. Confirm the current position with Wise before relying on it.

Payoneer and marketplaces

Payoneer is widely used by Turkish freelancers and marketplace sellers for Upwork, Amazon and Etsy payouts, with withdrawals to Turkish bank accounts.

Why PayPal is gone

PayPal suspended its Turkish operations in June 2016 after the banking regulator (BDDK) refused its payment licence, linked to rules requiring payment systems to be hosted locally. Turkish residents still cannot open PayPal accounts. A US LLC can apply for PayPal Business with a US bank account, but PayPal verifies the owner and may restrict accounts tied to unsupported countries.

Which banks and payment tools work for Turkish residents

Provider	Status for a Turkish resident owner (October 2026)
Mercury	Available. Turkey is not on Mercury’s prohibited-countries list. Virtual cards work; check Mercury’s card-shipping list for physical cards.
Wise	Restricted. No new account details for Türkiye-based customers since 31 May 2023; Türkiye is on the no-USD-details list.
Payoneer	Available, with withdrawals to Turkish banks.
Stripe	Turkey is not a Stripe country. A US LLC with a US bank account applies to Stripe US; approval is not guaranteed.
PayPal	Not available since June 2016.

For more, see Mercury vs Wise for non-resident LLCs and how to open Stripe as a non-resident. Etsy and Amazon sellers can also read our LLC for Amazon FBA guide.

Taxes for a US LLC from Turkey: at home and in the US

This is general information, not tax advice. Turkish tax residents (generally those staying more than six months in a calendar year) are taxed on worldwide income. How Türkiye treats income from your US LLC, as foreign company profits paid to you or as your own business income, depends on the facts, and dividend rules for foreign companies come with conditions. Ask a Turkish mali müşavir (SMMM) or YMM before you start paying yourself.

One local rule worth knowing: Türkiye gives individuals a deduction for income from qualifying service exports, such as software, design, engineering and data services delivered to clients abroad (GVK article 89/13). A presidential decision published on 30 April 2026 raised it from 80% to 100% for income from 1 January 2026, provided the proceeds are brought into Türkiye by the annual return deadline. Whether it fits a structure where a US LLC sits between you and your clients is exactly the kind of question your adviser should answer.

On the US side, a single-member LLC owned by a non-resident is normally disregarded and often owes no US income tax if it has no US trade or business. It must still file Form 5472 with a pro forma 1120 every year; the penalty starts at 25,000$. The US and Türkiye have had an income tax treaty since 1996.

Step by step: open a US company from Turkey

1. Choose New Mexico or Wyoming and a company name.
2. Prepare documents: a valid Turkish passport (the kimlik kartı is not accepted by most US providers) and proof of address, such as a recent utility bill, a bank statement, or a yerleşim yeri belgesi from e-Devlet. Turkish-language documents need an English translation.
3. File the LLC. State approval usually takes 5–7 business days.
4. Get the EIN without an SSN; see EIN without SSN. Timing depends on the IRS.
5. Open Mercury, then apply to Stripe US or other processors.
6. Open a USD account at your Turkish bank to receive distributions.
7. Every year: Form 5472 + 1120, your Turkish return, and renewal from year 2 (129$/yr in New Mexico, 229$/yr in Wyoming).

Mistakes, scams and what not to do

• Using a friend’s address abroad to keep Wise or open PayPal. Wise checks addresses and returns payments; misrepresentation gets accounts closed.
• Buying “hazır PayPal” or “hazır Stripe” accounts sold on Telegram or Instagram. They are someone else’s identity.
• Assuming a US LLC is tax-free in Türkiye. Residents are taxed on worldwide income.
• Undocumented transfers through informal exchange or crypto, which create problems with your bank and tax office.
• Skipping Form 5472 in a quiet year.

New Mexico or Wyoming for Turkish founders

Turkish founders often choose New Mexico: no annual report, no yearly state fee, and 129$/yr renewal from year 2, which keeps a small export business lean. Wyoming costs 229$/yr from year 2 (including the 60$ annual report fee) and suits founders who want its asset-protection reputation. See New Mexico vs Wyoming.

Start your US LLC from Turkey

LLC Station forms New Mexico LLCs from 249$ (Starter), 349$ (Builder, adds EIN and bank-application help) or 499$ (Diamond, adds Stripe setup with you, Operating Agreement, US phone number and first-year Form 5472 + 1120). Wyoming starts at 299$. State fee and first-year registered agent are included, and we support you in Turkish and English on WhatsApp. Start your New Mexico LLC or read the complete non-resident guide.

Frequently asked questions

Can a Turkish resident open Mercury for a US LLC?

Yes. Turkey is not on Mercury’s prohibited-countries list. Virtual cards work; physical card delivery depends on Mercury’s shipping list.

Why can’t I get Wise account details in Türkiye?

Since 31 May 2023, Wise does not issue new account details to customers with a Türkiye address and has been phasing out receiving. The rule follows your registered address.

Will PayPal come back to Turkey?

There is no announced return. PayPal suspended operations in June 2016 after the BDDK refused its licence, and Turkish residents still cannot open accounts.

Can I use iyzico or PayTR with my US LLC?

These gateways serve businesses registered in Türkiye and settle in lira. A US LLC normally applies to Stripe US with a US bank account instead.

Does the 100% service-export deduction apply if I use a US LLC?

The deduction is for qualifying service-export income of Turkish taxpayers brought into Türkiye on time. With a US LLC in the middle, the answer depends on your structure, so ask a mali müşavir.

Is there a US–Turkey tax treaty?

Yes, signed in 1996. It helps prevent double taxation, but your Turkish obligations as a resident remain.