How Is Stamp Duty Calculated? 2026 Rates and Examples

Stamp duty is one of the most invisible yet most common types of tax in daily business life. It often goes unnoticed when signing a contract, executing an undertaking, or preparing certain official documents; however, many legal and commercial transactions fall within the scope of this tax.

In this guide, we explain in clear language what stamp duty is, which documents and transactions it is levied on, the current rates and amounts for 2026, the calculation method, and key points to consider in practice.

🚀 Quick Glance

• Stamp duty is a type of tax levied on contracts and official documents that have legal consequences.

• The tax is calculated as either proportional (percentage-based) or fixed (flat-rate) depending on the nature of the document.

• In proportional stamp duty, the document value is multiplied by the relevant rate; in 2026, a rate of 9.48 per thousand is applied to contracts, 1.89 per thousand to rental agreements, and 7.59 per thousand to wage payments.

• Fixed amounts (such as declarations and balance sheets) are updated each year based on the revaluation rate; in 2026, this increase was 43.93%.

• Some documents (such as public transactions, incentive-linked activities, and the portion corresponding to the minimum wage) are exempt from stamp duty.

• It is possible to calculate stamp duty using digital tools in seconds, without any risk of error.

What is Stamp Duty?

Stamp duty is a tax levied on documents that create a legal or financial consequence between the parties, and which carry a signature or an indication that replaces a signature. Under the law, these documents are defined as "papers"; this term covers not only physical paper but also documents prepared electronically and created with e-signatures.

The main legal basis of the tax is the Stamp Duty Law No. 488. Table (1) annexed to the law specifies row by row which documents are taxable and which rate or amount applies. This table is updated annually by the General Communiqué published by the Ministry of Treasury and Finance; the rates applicable for 2026 were announced in the Stamp Duty Law General Communiqué No. 71.

Two conditions must be met for a document to be subject to stamp duty: the document must be signed (or carry an sign replacing a signature) and it must produce legal or financial consequences. In other words, the tax does not arise from the transaction itself, but from the document proving that transaction — this distinction is the main point that separates stamp duty from transaction-based taxes like VAT or income tax.

Which Documents are Subject to Stamp Duty?

In practice, the most common documents subject to stamp duty can be listed as follows:

Rental agreements. Agreements drawn up for residential or workplace rentals are taxable on the total rental value.

Service level agreements. All types of contracts related to the performance of a service that include a fee fall into this category.

Sales agreements. Contracts specifying a price for the sale of goods or rights are subject to stamp duty.

Undertakings. Documents showing that one party assumes a specific obligation to another are also evaluated in the same scope.

Protocols. Protocols executed in addition to an existing contract, containing a change in value or conditions, are also taxable; particularly in protocols containing a price increase, stamp duty arises separately for the increased portion.

Other documents. Payrolls, balance sheets, income statements, tender decisions, guarantee and collateral documents, and various tax declarations also fall within the definition of "paper" under stamp duty.

How is Stamp Duty Calculated?

There are two different calculation logics in stamp duty: proportional and fixed.

Proportional Stamp Duty Calculation

Proportional stamp duty is found by applying a specific rate to the monetary value in the document. The formula is as follows:

Stamp Duty = Document Value (Tax Base) × Stamp Duty Rate

For example, in a service agreement with a clearly specified net price, the 9.48 per thousand rate valid for 2026 is applied to this amount. In transactions spread over time, such as rental agreements, the tax base is not a single monthly fee; it is the total amount to be paid over the term of the agreement.

There is a statutory cap (maximum fee) for proportional stamp duty: the maximum stamp duty amount that can be levied on a paper for the year 2026 is 41,906,602.80 TL. No matter how high the contract price is, the calculated tax cannot exceed this limit.

What is Fixed Stamp Duty?

Fixed stamp duty is the payment of an amount set as a flat rate in the law according to the document type, independent of the monetary value on the document. The stamp duty of a balance sheet or a tax return is not affected by the numbers in that document; the amount to be paid is predetermined based on the document type.

Fixed amounts are not static; they are updated annually according to the revaluation rate. In 2026, fixed stamp duty rates were increased by 43.93%.

Fixed tax is generally applied to the following documents:

• Tax declarations (Income, corporate, VAT, withholding and premium service declarations, etc.)

• Financial statements (such as the balance sheet and income statement)

• Declarations (those submitted to municipalities, special provincial administrations, and social security institutions)

• Certain contracts and undertakings that do not contain a fee

2026 Stamp Duty Rates

The most common proportional rates and fixed amounts in practice for 2026 are as follows:

🎯 Pro Tip

The most common confusion we see in the field is the misconception that stamp duty on payrolls will be calculated on the entire gross wage. However, starting from 2022, the portion corresponding to the minimum wage is exempt from stamp duty; the tax is calculated only on the portion exceeding the minimum wage. Skipping this exemption in payroll calculations can lead to excessive tax withholding.

Stamp Duty Calculation Example

Example 1 — Rental Agreement: Let's assume a 1-year rental agreement is drawn up with a monthly rent of 20,000 TL.

• Total contract price (tax base): 20,000 TL x 12 months = 240,000 TL

• Applicable rate: 1.89 per thousand (0.00189)

• Calculation: 240,000 TL x 0.00189 = 453.60 TL

• Stamp duty payable: 453.60 TL

Example 2 — Service Level Agreement: Suppose a service level agreement is signed with a price of 500,000 TL excluding VAT.

• Tax base: 500,000 TL

• Applicable rate: 9.48 per thousand (0.00948)

• Calculation: 500,000 TL x 0.00948 = 4,740 TL

• Stamp duty payable: 4,740 TL

As you can see, the calculation itself is a simple multiplication; the main point to watch out for is determining the correct tax base (such as the amount excluding VAT) and the correct rate.

Who Pays the Stamp Duty?

The taxpayers of stamp duty are the parties who sign the taxable paper (contract). If a contract is signed by more than one person or institution, the parties are jointly and severally liable for the payment of this tax. This means the tax office can demand the entire debt from any of the parties.

Adding clauses to the contract like "the tenant pays the stamp duty" or "the parties split the tax fifty-fifty" only binds the agreement between the parties themselves (internal relationship). The tax office does not take these clauses into account; by law, it holds all signees responsible for the debt.

In documents drawn up between an official department and individuals/private companies, the party other than the official department (the individual or private company) is obliged to pay the entire stamp duty. When is Stamp Duty Paid?

The stamp duty declaration is submitted electronically via the Digital Tax Office or the relevant declaration system. In general practice:

• Filing period: Until the evening of the 23rd day of the month following the relevant month,

• Payment period: Completed until the evening of the 26th day of the same month.

Individuals who do not have a continuous tax liability and incur stamp duty for a one-time paper are obliged to declare and pay this tax within a specific period starting from the date the paper is issued.

For stamp duty not declared or paid on time, delay interest is charged and punitive sanctions such as a tax loss penalty may be applied under the relevant legislation. For this reason, it is important for businesses that execute a large number of contracts to regularly follow the declaration schedule.

Which Documents are Exempt from Stamp Duty?

The law excludes some documents from stamp duty. The most common groups of exemptions are:

• Public transactions. Certain documents issued between official departments directly relating to public service.

• Minimum wage exemption. The portion of wages corresponding to the minimum wage on payrolls is not included in the stamp duty tax base.

• Transactions within the scope of an investment incentive certificate. Documents related to investment expenditures linked to an incentive certificate may be exempt from stamp duty under certain conditions.

• Education training exemption. Certain contracts made with educational institutions fall within the scope of exemption.

• Certain commercial documents. Papers regarding specific transactions within the scope of exports and incentives, which are explicitly listed in the law.

Whether a document falls under the scope of an exemption depends on the type of document and the transaction on which it is based; in case of hesitation, consulting a financial advisor is the safest way.

Most Common Stamp Duty Errors Businesses Make

Calculating the contract price on an incorrect tax base. Especially in contracts spread over time (like rent), it is often forgotten that the tax base is the total contract value, not a single month's rent.

Overlooking price increases in protocols. When a price increase is made to an existing contract via an additional protocol, it is often not realized that stamp duty arises separately for the increased portion.

Not applying the minimum wage exemption. Calculating stamp duty on the entire gross wage on payrolls can lead to more tax being withheld than necessary.

Missing the declaration deadline. Failing to file the stamp duty declaration on time can result in delay interest and punitive sanctions.

Not keeping up with current rates. Since fixed amounts change every year based on the revaluation rate, calculating with the previous year's amounts leads to errors.

Calculate Stamp Duty in Seconds

Calculating stamp duty manually brings the risk of errors, the need to track rate changes, and the requirement to determine the correct calculation method according to the document type.

With the Üstad Stamp Duty Calculation Tool, you can calculate stamp duty in seconds just by entering the required details, and easily reach the correct result based on current rates. This way, you can both save time and prevent calculation errors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does specifying VAT as included or excluded in the contract affect stamp duty?

Yes. If the VAT amount is clearly separated in the contract, stamp duty is calculated on the amount excluding VAT. If a single figure is written without separating VAT, the tax is levied on the total amount.

Does having a guarantor in the contract increase the stamp duty?

If the guarantor signs the contract as a "joint guarantor" or "joint debtor", the tax doubles; tax is paid separately (9.48 per thousand + 9.48 per thousand) for both the principal transaction and the guarantee.

Is tax paid again if an expiring rental agreement extends automatically?

No. If the rental agreement is renewed automatically without signing a new document, no new stamp duty arises. However, if a new protocol is signed for a rent increase, tax is paid only on the increased portion.

How is the calculation done for contracts drawn up in foreign currencies?

The values are converted to Turkish Lira based on the CBRT foreign exchange selling rate on the date the contract was signed. Proportional stamp duty is calculated based on the resulting TL amount.

Is a contract for which stamp duty has not been paid legally invalid?

No, the contract remains valid. However, if the document needs to be presented to court, execution offices, or an official institution, registration processes will not be carried out without the unpaid tax being collected along with its penalty and delay interest.