Homes on the hill above Alanya's harbour: building tax is charged on the tax value, not the price

Turkey property tax for foreigners: on the way in, every year, on the rent, on the way out.

Turkey property tax. Buy, hold, rent, sell. Brinkman Data brand card.

// Short answer

A foreign owner in Turkey meets tax at four points. On purchase: a 2% title deed fee. Every year: building tax of 0.1% to 0.2% of the tax value on a residence, plus high-value residence tax above a threshold. On rent: 15% to 40% for 2026. On sale: tax on the gain only if sold within five years.

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.

What taxes do you pay when buying property in Turkey?

The title deed fee: 2% from the buyer and 2% from the seller, on a declared price that cannot be lower than the property-tax value. The first sale of a new home to a non-resident foreigner is VAT-exempt if the price is brought into Turkey in foreign currency.

If a VAT-exempt unit is disposed of within three years, the untaxed VAT plus interest must be paid before the title transfer. VAT rates on new homes without the exemption were not confirmed against the rate decree for this page. All one-off costs: Turkey property buying costs.

What is the annual property tax in Turkey?

Building tax (emlak vergisi) of 0.1% for residences and 0.2% for other buildings, charged on the building tax value, not the market price. Inside metropolitan municipalities, such as Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir and Antalya, the rates are doubled to 0.2% and 0.4%.

PropertyRateInside a metropolitan municipality
Residence0.1%0.2%
Other building0.2%0.4%
Agricultural land0.1%0.2%
Building plot0.3%0.6%

Tax values were revalued for 2026 under a statutory cap. How large the 2026 increase is was not confirmed, and secondary claims conflict with the statute, so check the bill for your property.

What is the high-value residence tax in Turkey?

An annual tax on residences whose building tax value exceeds TRY 17,711,000 in 2026. It is charged on the part above that threshold: 0.3% up to TRY 26,567,000, 0.6% on the part up to TRY 35,425,000, and 1.0% above. The base is the tax value, not the sale price.

A person whose only residence in Turkey falls in scope is exempt. A person with several residences in scope is exempt for the one with the lowest value.

How is rental income taxed for a non-resident owner in Turkey?

A person not settled in Turkey is taxed only on income earned in Turkey, which includes rent from Turkish property. The 2026 income tax bands run from 15% on the first TRY 190,000 to 40% above TRY 5,300,000. A company tenant must withhold income tax when paying the rent; a private individual tenant does not.

Taxable income, 2026Rate
Up to TRY 190,00015%
To TRY 400,00020%
To TRY 1,000,00027%
To TRY 5,300,00035%
Above TRY 5,300,00040%

For 2026 the first TRY 58,000 of gross residential rent a year is exempt, subject to conditions; whether a non-resident may use it was not confirmed. The withholding rate on rent is set by presidential decision and was not confirmed from the decision text.

What is capital gains tax on Turkish property?

A gain on property is taxable only if it is sold within five years of acquisition. Sell after five years and the gain is outside this tax. Property received by gift or inheritance is outside the rule. For 2026, TRY 150,000 of gains per calendar year is exempt.

A non-resident who does not otherwise file an annual return reports the gain on a special return to the tax office where the property is, within 15 days of receiving the income. Step by step: selling property in Turkey as a foreigner.

Who counts as settled in Turkey for tax?

A person with a legal domicile in Turkey, or who stays in Turkey continuously for more than six months in a calendar year; temporary absences do not break the stay. People in Turkey for a set temporary job, study, treatment, rest or travel are not treated as settled even beyond six months.

This definition decides both how rent is taxed and whether the VAT exemption for non-residents on a new home is available.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do foreigners pay property tax in Turkey?
Yes, the same building tax as Turkish owners: 0.1% of the tax value on a residence, 0.2% inside metropolitan municipalities such as Istanbul.
Is there capital gains tax if I sell after five years in Turkey?
No. Under the Income Tax Law, a gain on property is taxable only if it is sold within five years of acquisition.
What is the income tax rate on rent in Turkey?
Progressive: 15% to 40% on the 2026 bands. A company tenant withholds tax at source; a private tenant does not.
Is the high-value residence tax charged on the sale price?
No. It is charged on the building tax value, above TRY 17,711,000 for 2026.
When are Turkish tax thresholds updated?
Every year. The figures on this page are the 2026 amounts.

Header photo: kallerna, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. All credits: image credits.

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Disclaimer

Brinkman Data Analytics is an independent research service. Not financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. All yield figures are estimates based on historical research data and are not guaranteed. International real estate carries risk of partial or total loss of capital.