Selling property in Turkey as a foreigner: the five-year line, the deed fee, the 15-day return.
// Short answer
Sell Turkish property more than five years after buying it and the gain is outside income tax. Sell within five years and the gain is taxable above a TRY 150,000 annual exemption, reported by a non-resident on a special return within 15 days. The seller also pays a 2% title deed fee. Some units carry VAT or citizenship strings.
Rules and rates as of September 2026. Turkish tax thresholds and fines are revalued every year and the citizenship rules have changed before, so check the dated items again before you sign. Every figure links to its source.
On this page
- Do you pay tax when selling property in Turkey?
- Is there an exemption on property gains in Turkey?
- How does a non-resident report a gain on Turkish property?
- What does the seller pay at the Turkish land registry?
- Can you sell a Turkish property bought for citizenship or VAT-free?
- Can a foreigner sell to another foreigner in Turkey?
Do you pay tax when selling property in Turkey?
Only if you sell within five years of acquiring it. A gain on real property sold within five years is taxable income; after five years it is outside the rule. The period was changed from four to five years in 2007. Property received by gift or inheritance is outside this rule.
Where the gain is taxable, it is taxed at the income tax rates, 15% to 40% on the 2026 bands.
Is there an exemption on property gains in Turkey?
Yes. For 2026, TRY 150,000 of capital gains per calendar year is exempt. The amount is revalued each year.
The exemption does not apply to gains on securities.
How does a non-resident report a gain on Turkish property?
On a special return (münferit beyanname) to the tax office where the property is located, within 15 days of receiving the income, if the non-resident is not otherwise required to file an annual return.
Fifteen days is short. Line up a Turkish accountant before the completion date.
What does the seller pay at the Turkish land registry?
A title deed fee of 2% of the declared sale price, separately from the buyer's 2%. The declared price may not be lower than the property-tax value. The land registry sends the fee amounts by SMS before signing.
The sale is signed as an official deed at the land registry office. How the register works: the Turkish tapu, explained.
Sources
Can you sell a Turkish property bought for citizenship or VAT-free?
Not without cost inside the set periods. A citizenship purchase carries a title annotation that it will not be sold for three years; it is removed at the owner's request after three years. A new home bought VAT-free as a non-resident owes the VAT plus interest if disposed of within three years.
Check both dates against your planned exit before you list.
Sources
Can a foreigner sell to another foreigner in Turkey?
Yes, if the buyer's own nationality is eligible. The buyer then goes through the same process: a currency certificate (DAB) from a Turkish bank, and the signing at the land registry office.
No official statement on repatriating sale proceeds was found for this page; confirm the process with your bank. The buyer's side: transferring money to Turkey for a property.
Sources
// Buying in Turkey?
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See the $499 report, page by pageFrequently Asked Questions
Is there capital gains tax on Turkish property after five years?
How long does a non-resident have to declare a property gain in Turkey?
Does the seller pay a title deed fee in Turkey?
Can I sell a citizenship property in Turkey before three years?
Header photo: kallerna, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. All credits: image credits.