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What is Turkey’s tax policy regarding real estate investors?

I want to buy an apartment in Istanbul to get citizenship, then put it on the Airbnb market. How will the revenue generated by the apartment be taxed, if at all? Do I have to report earnings to authorities? Also, would I have trouble transferring earnings outside Turkey?


Answers
  • ADMD Mavioglu & Alkan Law Office
    October 02, 2023

    Turkey applies 0,1% real estate tax for residence units in small cities and 0,2% in larger municipal areas and that is 0,2% and 0,4% for commercial real estate calculated over the market value (determined every year by municipal authorities). The rental revenue is also subject to an income tax with progressive rates applied for levels of annual income (from 15% to 40%). Turkey has regulated short-term lease (Airbnb type) transactions and asks the landlords to register into a system and inform the identities of guests etc. In addition, you may need some assistance to manage such since such short-term leases are regarded as businesses, there are some special tax applications (VAT, accommodation tax) and tourism certification requirements (the tax codes do not allow regular residential rental submission for daily rental revenues, you may need an intermediating company etc.).

  • Tenha Law Firm
    October 02, 2023

    21.000 TL of the rental income to be obtained in 2023 is exempt from income tax. 21.000 Turkish Liras of residential rental income does not need to be declared. If the rental income exceeds this amount, this amount is exempt from income tax. In the event that income above the exemption amount is not declared, the right to benefit from the exemption disappears. In the event that real estate owned by you are rented out to third parties for daily or weekly periods, the income to be obtained from this service should be subject to VAT at a rate of 18%.