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Category IIICorporate Law

Corporate Law Law

This section addresses the formation, governance and transfer of shares of joint stock and limited liability companies, as well as mergers, divisions and conversions, under the Turkish Commercial Code (Law No. 6102).

10 articlesWith statutory referencesAll Categories
LatestFormation of a Joint Stock Company: Steps, Documents and the Articles of Association (2026)25 April 2026
15 February 2026

Liquidation of Joint Stock and Limited Liability Companies: Procedure, Time Limits and Liability

Liquidators' duties under TTK arts.529 et seq.

How is a company liquidated? Grounds for dissolution, the three creditor calls, the liquidator's liability and supplementary liquidation.

Liquidation is the process by which a dissolved commercial company has its assets realised, its receivables collected, its debts paid and the remaining amount distributed among shareholders. Articles 529-548 of the Turkish Commercial Code (Law No. 6102) govern liquidation in joint stock companies, with parallel rules for limited companies in article 636 et seq.

Grounds for Dissolution and Entry into Liquidation

TTK art.529 lists the grounds for the dissolution of a joint stock company: expiry of the term, occurrence of a ground stipulated in the articles of association, declaration of bankruptcy, general assembly resolution, court judgment (TTK arts.530-531) and absence of organs. Article 636 contains parallel provisions for limited companies.

On dissolution, the company must add 'in liquidation' (tasfiye halinde) to its trade name. The board of directors continues in office but its powers are limited to the purposes of the liquidation; liquidators are appointed and registered (TTK arts.532 and 536).

Duties and Liability of the Liquidator

The liquidator is responsible for conducting the liquidation, drawing up the opening and interim balance sheets, collecting receivables and paying debts, selling assets, and distributing any surplus to shareholders (TTK arts.540-543). The liquidator may be a natural or legal person; his or her civil and criminal liability follows the same principles as those for board members (TTK art.553).

Known creditors must be notified of the liquidation; for unknown creditors, three calls are published in the Turkish Trade Registry Gazette at weekly intervals (TTK art.541). Any remaining assets may not be distributed to shareholders before one year has elapsed from the publication date of the third call (TTK art.543).

Conclusion of Liquidation and Supplementary Liquidation

When the liquidation operations are completed, the liquidators draw up a closing balance sheet and present it to the general assembly. Upon approval and discharge by the general assembly, the company applies for striking off (terkin) from the trade registry; the company's legal personality ends with the striking off (TTK art.545).

If, after striking off, an overlooked receivable, asset or claim emerges, an application may be made to the Commercial Court of First Instance for an order to undertake a 'supplementary liquidation' under TTK art.547. The supplementary liquidation may be requested within ten years of striking off; on the court's order, the company regains legal personality for the limited purpose of that liquidation.

Practical Considerations

In corporate-law matters, resolutions, meeting notices, agendas, attendance lists, signature circulars, trade-registry application documents and the articles of association must be reviewed as a whole. In corporate transactions, most disputes arise not from the substance of the resolution but from defects in notice, quorum, representation and registration.

Transactions such as share transfers, amendments to the articles of association, mergers, demergers and liquidations are not completed by internal resolutions alone; notary, trade-registry, tax and accounting dimensions are also part of the process. The legal steps and financial obligations should therefore be planned together when drawing up the transaction timetable.

From the perspective of shareholders or directors, dissenting opinions, information rights, requests for special audit and records of release and liability may carry decisive evidentiary weight in any subsequent action. Minutes of meetings should therefore be prepared in clear and auditable form.

Relevant Statutory Provisions

  • TTK m.529Grounds for dissolution of a joint stock company

    Original (Turkish, official):

    MADDE 529- (1) Anonim şirket;
    a) Sürenin sona ermesine rağmen işlere fiilen devam etmek suretiyle belirsiz süreli hâle gelmemişse, esas sözleşmede öngörülen sürenin sona ermesiyle,
    b) İşletme konusunun gerçekleşmesiyle veya gerçekleşmesinin imkânsız hâle gelmesiyle,
    c) Esas sözleşmede öngörülmüş herhangi bir sona erme sebebinin gerçekleşmesiyle,
    d) 421 inci maddenin üçüncü ve dördüncü fıkralarına uygun olarak alınan genel kurul kararıyla,
    e) İflasına karar verilmesiyle,
    f) Kanunlarda öngörülen diğer hâllerde,
    sona erer.

    English summary (non-binding):

    Article 529- (1) A joint stock company is dissolved: a) By the expiry of the term provided in the articles of association, where it has not become indeterminate through continued operations; b) By the realisation, or impossibility of realisation, of the corporate purpose; c) By the occurrence of any other ground for dissolution provided in the articles of association; d) By a general assembly resolution adopted in accordance with article 421(3) and (4); e) By a declaration of bankruptcy; f) In any other case provided for by law.

    Source: mevzuat.gov.tr · last reviewed: 2026-05-12

  • TTK m.531Dissolution action on just cause

    Original (Turkish, official):

    MADDE 531- (1) Haklı sebeplerin varlığında, sermayenin en az onda birini ve halka açık şirketlerde yirmide birini temsil eden payların sahipleri, şirketin merkezinin bulunduğu yerdeki asliye ticaret mahkemesinden şirketin feshine karar verilmesini isteyebilirler. Mahkeme, fesih yerine, davacı pay sahiplerine, paylarının karar tarihine en yakın tarihteki gerçek değerlerinin ödenip davacı pay sahiplerinin şirketten çıkarılmalarına veya duruma uygun düşen ve kabul edilebilir diğer bir çözüme karar verebilir.

    English summary (non-binding):

    Article 531- (1) On just cause, shareholders representing at least one-tenth of the capital (or one-twentieth in listed companies) may apply to the Commercial Court of First Instance of the place of the company's seat for the dissolution of the company. Instead of dissolution, the court may order that the claimant shareholders be paid the real value of their shares (as of the date nearest to the judgment) and removed from the company, or order another appropriate and acceptable solution.

    Source: mevzuat.gov.tr · last reviewed: 2026-05-12

  • TTK m.536Appointment of liquidators

    Original (Turkish, official):

    MADDE 536- (1) Esas sözleşme veya genel kurul kararıyla ayrıca tasfiye memuru atanmadığı takdirde, tasfiye, yönetim kurulu tarafından yapılır. Tasfiye memurları pay sahiplerinden veya üçüncü kişilerden olabilir. Tasfiye ile görevlendirilenler esas sözleşmede veya atama kararında aksi öngörülmemişse olağan ücrete hak kazanırlar.
    (2) Yönetim kurulu, tasfiye memurlarını ticaret siciline tescil ve ilan ettirir. Tasfiye işlerinin yönetim kurulunca yapılması hâlinde de bu hüküm uygulanır.
    (3) Şirketin feshine mahkemenin karar verdiği hâllerde tasfiye memuru mahkemece atanır.
    (4) Temsile yetkili tasfiye memurlarından en az birinin Türk vatandaşı olması ve yerleşim yerinin Türkiye'de bulunması şarttır. 

    English summary (non-binding):

    Article 536- (1) Unless a liquidator is appointed by the articles of association or by general assembly resolution, the liquidation is carried out by the board of directors. Liquidators may be selected from among the shareholders or from third parties. Unless otherwise provided in the articles or appointment decision, liquidators are entitled to ordinary remuneration. (2) The board of directors registers and announces the liquidators in the trade registry; this also applies where the board itself conducts the liquidation. (3) Where the court orders the company's dissolution, the liquidator is appointed by the court. (4) At least one of the liquidators authorised to represent the company must be a Turkish citizen and resident in Türkiye.

    Source: mevzuat.gov.tr · last reviewed: 2026-05-12

  • TTK m.541Creditors' calls (three announcements)

    Original (Turkish, official):

    MADDE 541- (1) Alacaklı oldukları şirket defterlerinden veya diğer belgelerden anlaşılan ve yerleşim yerleri bilinen kişiler taahhütlü mektupla, diğer alacaklılar Türkiye Ticaret Sicili Gazetesinde ve şirketin internet sitesinde ve aynı zamanda esas sözleşmede öngörüldüğü şekilde, birer hafta arayla yapılacak üç ilanla şirketin sona ermiş bulunduğu konusunda bilgilendirilirler ve alacaklarını tasfiye memurlarına bildirmeye çağrılırlar.
    (2) Alacaklı oldukları bilinenler, bildirimde bulunmazlarsa alacaklarının tutarı Gümrük ve Ticaret Bakanlığınca belirlenecek bir bankaya depo edilir.
    (3) Şirketin, henüz muaccel olmayan veya hakkında uyuşmazlık bulunan borçlarını karşılayacak tutarda para notere depo edilir; meğerki, bu gibi borçlar yeterli bir şekilde teminat altına alınmış veya şirket varlığının pay sahipleri arasında paylaşımı bu borçların ödenmesi şartına bağlanmış olsun.
    (4) Yukarıdaki fıkralarda yazılı hükümlere aykırı hareket eden tasfiye memurları haksız olarak ödedikleri paralardan dolayı 553 üncü madde uyarınca sorumludur. 

    English summary (non-binding):

    Article 541- (1) Creditors identified from the company's books or other documents and whose addresses are known are informed by registered letter; other creditors are informed by three announcements at weekly intervals in the Turkish Trade Registry Gazette, on the company's website and as provided in the articles of association, that the company is dissolved, and are invited to notify their claims to the liquidators. (2) If known creditors do not notify, the amount of their claim is deposited with a bank designated by the Ministry of Customs and Trade. (3) An amount sufficient to cover debts that are not yet due or that are disputed is deposited with a notary, unless those debts are adequately secured or unless the distribution of the assets to the shareholders is made subject to payment of those debts. (4) Liquidators who act contrary to the above paragraphs are liable under article 553 for amounts unduly paid.

    Source: mevzuat.gov.tr · last reviewed: 2026-05-12

  • TTK m.543Distribution of liquidation surplus (one year)

    Original (Turkish, official):

    MADDE 543- (1) Tasfiye hâlinde bulunan şirketin borçları ödendikten ve pay bedelleri geri verildikten sonra kalan varlığı, esas sözleşmede aksi kararlaştırılmamışsa pay sahipleri arasında, ödedikleri sermayeler ve imtiyaz hakları oranında dağıtılır. Tasfiye payında imtiyazın varlığı hâlinde esas sözleşmedeki düzenleme uygulanır.
    (2) Alacaklılara üçüncü kez yapılan çağrı tarihinden itibaren üç ay geçmedikçe kalan varlık dağıtılamaz. Şu kadar ki, hâl ve duruma göre alacaklılar için bir tehlike mevcut olmadığı takdirde mahkeme üç ay geçmeden de dağıtmaya izin verebilir.
    (3) Esas sözleşme ve genel kurul kararında aksine hüküm bulunmadıkça, dağıtma para olarak yapılır.

    English summary (non-binding):

    Article 543- (1) After the debts of the company in liquidation are paid and the share capital is returned, any remaining assets are distributed among the shareholders, unless the articles of association provide otherwise, in proportion to the capital paid in and any privileges. Where there is a privilege regarding the liquidation share, the provisions of the articles apply. (2) The remaining assets may not be distributed until three months have passed from the date of the third creditors' call. However, where the circumstances show no danger to creditors, the court may permit earlier distribution. (3) Unless the articles of association or the general assembly resolution provide otherwise, distribution is made in cash.

    Source: mevzuat.gov.tr · last reviewed: 2026-05-12

  • TTK m.547Supplementary liquidation

    Original (Turkish, official):

    MADDE 547- (1) Tasfiyenin kapanmasından sonra ek tasfiye işlemlerinin yapılmasının zorunlu olduğu anlaşılırsa, son tasfiye memurları, yönetim kurulu üyeleri, pay sahipleri veya alacaklılar, şirket merkezinin bulunduğu yerdeki asliye ticaret mahkemesinden, bu ek işlemler sonuçlandırılıncaya kadar, şirketin yeniden tescilini isteyebilirler.
    (2) Mahkeme istemin yerinde olduğuna kanaat getirirse, şirketin ek tasfiye için yeniden tesciline karar verir ve bu işlemlerini yapmaları için son tasfiye memurlarını veya yeni bir veya birkaç kişiyi tasfiye memuru olarak atayarak tescil ve ilan ettirir. 

    English summary (non-binding):

    Article 547- (1) If, after the closing of the liquidation, it becomes apparent that supplementary liquidation operations are necessary, the last liquidators, board members, shareholders or creditors may apply to the Commercial Court of First Instance of the place of the company's seat for the re-registration of the company until those supplementary operations are concluded. (2) If the court considers the application justified, it orders the re-registration of the company for supplementary liquidation and appoints — for registration and announcement — the last liquidators or one or more new liquidators.

    Source: mevzuat.gov.tr · last reviewed: 2026-05-12

The statutory provisions are reproduced for information purposes only. The current and official text on mevzuat.gov.tr is authoritative.

Conclusion

A company liquidation is not completed with a single general assembly resolution; it is a process lasting at least one year and involving financial, legal and tax reconciliations. Careful performance by the liquidator eliminates the risk of supplementary liquidation and liability actions.

This article is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If you would like professional assistance on a specific matter, you may request a consultation.

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