Taxation in E-Commerce: What Sellers Need to Know

March 18, 2026 · KârHesapla · Ferhat Demir · E-commerce Specialist

A marketplace seller’s tax burden falls under three main headings. This article is general information; be sure to consult your financial advisor about your own situation.

1. VAT (KDV)

You offset the VAT on your purchases against the VAT on your sales; the difference is paid. Collecting all of your purchase invoices without gaps directly lowers your net VAT burden.

2. Income / corporate tax

A sole proprietorship pays progressive income tax; a capital company pays corporate tax. Tax is calculated on profit — so archive all of your expense documents (shipping, packaging, advertising, commission invoices) regularly.

3. Marketplace withholding

Legislation may require marketplaces to withhold tax from payments to sellers; the rate and scope change with periodic regulations. Track the deduction items in your settlement reports through a monthly reconciliation with your accountant.

How it relates to profit calculation

To see your real after-tax earnings, also set aside the tax share from the net margin in your profit calculation; pricing on a pre-tax margin is a common mistake.