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Validate Turkey Tax ID Numbers via API
When building B2B applications that serve Turkey (Türkiye), validating your customers' VKN (Vergi Kimlik Numarası — Tax Identification Number) is essential for B2B compliance and protecting your business from tax liability.
The TaxID API provides instant format validation and live lookup for Turkey VKN numbers via GİB (Gelir İdaresi Başkanlığı — Revenue Administration). Every request returns the validation status with sub-100ms response times for cached results.Turkey applies a standard rate of 20% (VKN).
QUICK START
curl -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \ http://localhost:3000/api/v1/validate/TR/1234567890
Code examples
Choose your language. Every example validates a Turkey VAT number and returns the registration status with company details.
const res = await fetch('http://localhost:3000/api/v1/validate/TR/1234567890', {
headers: { 'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY' }
});
const data = await res.json();
// { valid: true, status: "active", company_name: "...", country_code: "TR", cached: false }
console.log(data);When to validate Turkey tax ID numbers
B2B invoicing and accounts payable
When issuing or receiving invoices from Turkey businesses, validating the VKN (Vergi Kimlik Numarası — Tax Identification Number) ensures the identifier is genuine before committing the transaction to your ERP. Invalid or fabricated tax IDs are a leading vector for invoice fraud and can result in rejected filings or audit penalties.
SaaS and e-commerce checkout
If your platform serves Turkey business customers, collecting and validating their VKN (Vergi Kimlik Numarası — Tax Identification Number) at checkout is required for accurate tax treatment, correct invoicing, and downstream reporting. An invalid tax ID at the point of sale creates a correction burden across your finance stack.
Supplier and marketplace onboarding
For procurement platforms and regulated marketplaces onboarding Turkey sellers or vendors, validating the VKN (Vergi Kimlik Numarası — Tax Identification Number) at registration prevents fraudulent or duplicate accounts from entering your ecosystem. Validate once at onboarding, then re-validate periodically to detect deregistrations or changes.
About Turkey VAT format (VKN)
Turkey raised its standard VAT rate from 18% to 20% in July 2023. The VKN is a 10-digit tax identification number with a check digit algorithm. Turkey is a candidate EU country and a significant market for European B2B SaaS companies. The reduced 10% rate covers items like food, medicine, and certain services.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Country code | TR |
| Local name | VKN (Vergi Kimlik Numarası — Tax Identification Number) |
| Format | 10 digits |
| Regex pattern | ^[0-9]{10}$ |
| Example | 1234567890 |
| VIES supported | No |
VAT rates in Turkey
Turkey applies a standard VKN rate of 20%. Reduced rates of 10% and 1% apply to essential goods and services.
| Rate type | Percentage | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Standard rate | 20% | TRY |
| Reduced rate | 10% | TRY |
| Reduced rate | 1% | TRY |
Frequently asked questions
What is the Turkey tax ID number format?
Turkey tax ID numbers (VKN (Vergi Kimlik Numarası — Tax Identification Number)) follow the format: 10 digits. A valid example is 1234567890. The TaxID API validates the format locally and where possible checks against the GİB (Gelir İdaresi Başkanlığı — Revenue Administration), ensuring you only accept properly registered businesses.
Should I validate VKN numbers when transacting with Turkey businesses?
Validating VKN numbers reduces fraud risk, prevents invalid identifiers from entering your accounting system, and is required by many B2B contracts and procurement platforms. While mandatory rules vary by jurisdiction, validating at onboarding is widely considered best practice — especially for SaaS, marketplace, and fintech platforms with global customer bases.
What is the standard tax rate in Turkey?
The standard tax rate in Turkey is 20% (VKN). Reduced rates of 10% and 1% apply to certain goods and services such as food, books, and medical supplies. The TaxID API's /rates endpoint returns all current rates for programmatic access.
How long does Turkey tax ID validation take with TaxID?
For cached results (previously validated in the last 24 hours), the TaxID API responds in under 10ms. Format validation is instantaneous. For uncached requests requiring a live lookup against GİB (Gelir İdaresi Başkanlığı — Revenue Administration), response time is typically 100–500ms. Valid numbers are cached for 24 hours; invalid numbers are cached for 1 hour.
How does the TaxID API validate Turkey VKN numbers?
The TaxID API validates Turkey VKN numbers in two steps: first it checks the format against the official pattern (10 digits), then it queries GİB (Gelir İdaresi Başkanlığı — Revenue Administration) where a live API is available. Turkey raised its standard VAT rate from 18% to 20% in July 2023. The VKN is a 10-digit tax identification number with a check digit algorithm. Turkey is a candidate EU country and a significant market for European B2B SaaS companies. The reduced 10% rate covers items like food, medicine, and certain services.
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