Short answer: When choosing an accountant in Ankara, first verify the licence (SMMM certificate and chamber registration), then ask about experience in your sector, what the monthly fee covers, how communication works and whether there is a written service agreement. Price alone should not decide it: the legal minimum fee is the same for everyone, so the difference lies in the scope and quality of the service.
Thousands of certified public accountants work in Ankara. More choice does not make the decision easier; it makes it harder. Most business owners pick an accountant on a friend’s recommendation or by the cheapest quote, and problems usually surface at the first tax audit, the first VAT refund or the first growth step.
In this article we list ten questions we recommend asking at a first meeting with a new accountant and explain how to assess the answers. The list works both for newly formed companies and for businesses thinking of changing accountants.
Why choosing an accountant matters so much
Your accountant is not just someone who files returns. They prepare your records for the tax office, the Social Security Institution (SGK) and the trade registry, track legal deadlines and tell you the tax consequences of a decision before you make it. A wrong activity code, a missed incentive or a late hiring notification can become a penalty months later. The right choice reduces these risks from the start.
What to ask at the first meeting: a 10-point list
1. Do you hold a licence and chamber registration?
Only licensed professionals can sign tax returns. You can verify an accountant’s licence and chamber by searching their name on TÜRMOB’s member lookup page. Accountants in Ankara are registered with the Ankara Chamber of Certified Public Accountants.
2. How many clients do you have in my sector?
The tax risks of an e-commerce company and a construction firm are very different. An accountant who knows your sector asks the right questions before you have to.
3. What does the monthly fee include?
Ask in writing which of VAT, withholding, provisional tax, the annual return, Ba-Bs forms, e-ledger certificates and payroll are included in the monthly fee. We published the 2026 minimum fees for Ankara in tables in accountant fees in Ankara.
4. How will I send documents?
By photo, email or a shared folder? If it is not clear by which day documents must be sent, the same rush repeats at the end of every month.
5. Who will answer my questions, and how quickly?
In large firms your file may be left to a trainee. Find out who the responsible accountant is and who will reach you in an emergency.
6. What happens if a letter comes from the tax office?
Requests for explanation, inspections and audits can happen to any business. Agree at the start whether you will be supported through them and whether that costs extra.
7. Which incentives and exemptions do you track?
If your accountant does not suggest benefits such as the young entrepreneur exemption, SGK incentives, R&D and investment incentives, nobody will. A good accountant should be able to name the ones that fit you at the first meeting.
8. Which software do you use?
e-Invoice, e-Archive and e-Ledger are now at the centre of the work. Compatibility between the firm’s software and your invoicing and banking systems greatly reduces the monthly workload.
9. Will we sign a written service agreement?
The agreement defines the fee, the scope, document deadlines and each side’s responsibilities. Working without one leaves both parties unprotected in a dispute.
10. How does the handover work if I want to leave?
A good accountant is not bothered by this question. How the books, the archive of returns and e-signature authorisations will be handed over is clear from the outset. We explain the process step by step in our guide to switching accountants.
A scoring table to assess the answers
If you have met several accountants, comparing their answers against the same criteria makes things easier. You can fill in the table below with your own notes.
| Criterion | Good sign | Warning sign |
|---|---|---|
| Licence and chamber registration | Appears in the TÜRMOB lookup | Licence details are not shared |
| Sector experience | Gives examples from similar clients | Describes every sector the same way |
| Fee and scope | Written, itemised scope | Just one figure, unclear scope |
| Communication | Named contact and response time | “Call us and we’ll see” |
| Digital setup | e-Documents and bank integration | Everything on paper and by hand |
| Agreement | Standard service agreement | No agreement offered |
These weights are not statistics but our office’s recommendation. Adjust them to your business’s priorities.
If you are just starting, also ask
If you do not have a company yet, choosing an accountant is intertwined with formation decisions. In that case add these to the ten questions above:
- Is a sole proprietorship or a limited company better for me, and can you show it with figures?
- How will we choose my activity code, and which tax rates and incentives does it affect?
- What will formation costs, fees and your formation charge come to in total?
- What is the filing calendar for the first month, and what must be set up before I issue my first invoice?
You can find detailed answers in sole proprietorship or limited company and 7 mistakes when forming a company.
What to expect from a good accountant in the first 30 days
You do not need to wait long to see whether you chose well. The first month after you start working together gives strong clues. In that time a good accountant:
- Reviews your existing records, tax certificate and SGK status, and reports any gaps in writing.
- Draws up a monthly calendar for you, so it is clear which document to send by which date.
- Checks whether mandatory systems such as e-Notification, e-Archive or e-Invoice are active.
- Shares your estimated tax burden before the first filing period, so the payment does not surprise you.
If none of these steps has happened by the end of the first month, it is not too late to reconsider the relationship.
Does location matter in Ankara?
Thanks to digital filing you can work with your accountant without ever meeting in person. Still, for a tax audit, trade registry procedures that need a signature or a complex advisory question, sitting down together speeds things up. An office at a central point such as Kızılay, where metro lines meet, is easy to reach from almost every district of Ankara. We compared online and office-based accounting in online accounting or a local accountant.
Are an accountant and a certified public accountant the same?
Although the two terms are used interchangeably in everyday speech, their legal powers differ. Today the professional title in Turkey with the authority to keep books and sign returns is the certified public accountant (SMMM). Sworn financial advisors (YMM) do not keep books; they certify. We explain the differences in accountant vs certified public accountant.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check an accountant’s licence?
Search by name or chamber registration number on the member lookup page of TÜRMOB’s website. Licensed professionals are listed there along with their chamber.
Is it wise to choose an accountant on a friend’s recommendation?
A recommendation is a good start but not enough. If your friend’s business differs from yours, the same accountant may not know your sector’s risks. Ask the recommended person the same questions.
Does my accountant need to be close to me?
No. Documents can be sent digitally and returns are filed electronically. But when you need to meet, a central and easily reached office saves time.
What is the risk of choosing the cheapest accountant?
Since the minimum fee is set by law, very low quotes usually mean the scope has been cut. The cost of a missed incentive or a late return easily exceeds the difference in fees.
Can I change accountants mid-year?
Yes, you can change in any month. The smoothest time is the start of a month after a filing period closes. Handing over the books and e-signature authorisations takes a few days.
When is the accountant responsible?
The accountant must keep accurate records based on the documents provided and file returns on time. Errors arising from documents never handed over are the business owner’s responsibility, so document delivery rules should be stated clearly in the agreement.
Summary
The way to find the right accountant in Ankara is not to look for the cheapest quote but to ask the right questions. A certified public accountant with a verified licence who knows your sector, defines the scope in writing and offers reachable communication becomes one of your business’s most valuable advisors.
You can ask us these ten questions too. We listen to your business at our office in Kızılay or in an online meeting and share the scope and a fixed monthly fee in writing. Get in touch to arrange a meeting, or first look at the scope of our accounting service.
Whichever accountant you choose, take notes at the first meeting and put the answers side by side. A few minutes of preparation gives a relationship that may last years a solid start.
