Turkey May Penalize Public Employees for Online Income

🇹🇷💻 Public employees in Türkiye could face disciplinary action for earning income through YouTube, social media, websites and mobile applications.

The Presidential Secretariat has informed the Council of Higher Education that income earned by public employees through digital platforms may fall under the prohibition on commercial activities established by Law No. 657 on Civil Servants.

According to the official letter, even the absence of a direct intention to make a profit does not necessarily protect a public employee from liability. The Tax Administration stated that an activity may be considered commercial based on its “potential to generate profit.”

⚠️ This means public employees who create online content and receive, or potentially can receive, income from it may face disciplinary measures.

📌 Article 28 of Law No. 657 at the Center of the Issue

The letter sent to the Council of Higher Education recalled Article 28 of Law No. 657 on Civil Servants, which regulates the prohibition on engaging in trade and other profit-making activities.

Under Turkish legislation, public employees are prohibited from engaging in activities that would classify them as merchants or tradespeople under the Turkish Commercial Code. They are also prohibited from opening private businesses or participating in activities of a commercial nature.

This provision has become the basis for evaluating activities carried out by public employees who earn income through digital platforms.

💰 Tax Benefits Do Not Remove the Prohibition

Particular attention was given to an opinion issued by the Tax Administration of the Ministry of Treasury and Finance.

The Income Tax Law provides a special tax regime for social media content creators and mobile application developers.

In 2026, income covered by this regime is subject to a special mechanism involving 15% tax withholding by banks for income within the applicable annual limit of 5.3 million Turkish liras.

However, according to the Tax Administration’s opinion, the existence of a tax benefit does not mean that the activity ceases to be considered commercial under public service legislation.

⚠️ Important: Tax rules and public service regulations are separate legal matters. The fact that the state allows a particular type of digital income to be taxed under special rules does not automatically mean that public employees are permitted to earn such income.

💻 Even Having No Intention to Make Money May Not Be Enough

The Tax Administration pointed out that proving a direct intention to make a profit is not necessarily required for an activity to be classified as commercial.

The mere fact that an activity has the potential to generate income may be sufficient. Therefore, public employees who create their own websites, work in online journalism or publish content on YouTube even without an initial intention to earn money may fall under the prohibition.

“An activity that has the potential to generate profit may be considered commercial even when a person did not initially intend to earn money.”

🏛️ Presidential Secretariat Warns of Disciplinary Consequences

Based on the conclusions of the Tax Administration, the Presidential Secretariat stated that income obtained through digital platforms falls under the restrictions established by public service legislation.

The decision states that income earned as a result of such activities is subject to the prohibitions established by Article 28 of Law No. 657.

As a result, public employees who earn income from YouTube, social media content creation, websites or the sale of mobile applications may become subject to disciplinary investigations.

🚨 Attention: The statement also mentions the possibility of disciplinary and criminal proceedings in cases provided for by applicable legislation.

📋 What Does This Mean for Public Employees?

• 💻 YouTube monetization may be considered a commercial activity.
• 📱 Income from social media may also fall under the restrictions of Law No. 657.
• 🌐 Creating and monetizing a personal website may create similar legal risks.
• 📲 Selling mobile applications may also be considered a commercial income-generating activity for public employees.
• 💰 A tax benefit does not by itself remove the restrictions imposed on public employees.
• ⚖️ Violations may lead to disciplinary investigations and, in cases provided for by law, criminal proceedings.

🇹🇷 Digital Income Under Additional Scrutiny

Digital activities carried out by public employees in Türkiye have therefore come under additional attention from government authorities.

The key question is now not only whether a public employee actually receives income, but also whether the person’s activity has the potential to generate commercial profit.

📌 For our readers in Türkiye: If you work in the public sector and earn income from digital content, it is advisable to check the current legal requirements separately before starting monetization and obtain professional legal or tax advice.