Annual Property Tax in Turkey (Emlak Vergisi):
residential real estate - 0.1-0.2% of the cadastral value
commercial - 0.2–0.4%
Tax is paid:
until the end of May
until the end of November
(can be paid in one payment for the year)
In Mersin the cadastral value is low, therefore:
The average tax is about 1,000 lira per year (≈ 20 euros)
The tax is paid from the following year after receiving the TAPU, regardless of the stage of construction.
Yes, there is a tax on the sale of real estate in Turkey if the property has been owned for less than 5 years.
The tax is levied on profit calculated as the difference between:
- cadastral value upon purchase
- cadastral value upon sale
Income tax rates in Turkey:
| Range of growth (profit) | Tax rate |
| Up to ~110,000 TL | ~15% |
| From ~110,000 to ~230,000 TL | ~20% |
| From ~230,000 to ~580,000 TL | ~27% |
| From ~580,000 to ~3,000,000 TL | ~35% |
| Over ~3,000,000 TL | ~40% |
Important:
- If there was no increase in cadastral value, no tax is charged
- Regular indexation of cadastral value for inflation is not considered profit
- If the transaction is properly executed, it is often possible to avoid taxes entirely
For a safe and profitable sale of real estate in Mersin, we recommend contacting the INCOME MERSIN real estate agency.
Benefits provided to foreigners in their countries do not apply in Turkey.
What is important to know:
TAPU registration for foreigners is more expensive than for Turkish citizens
All other taxes are the same for both foreigners and Turkish citizens
there are no discriminatory taxes for foreigners
No.
In Turkey, the tax-free period for real estate ownership is 5 years.
But:
the tax is calculated based on the cadastral value, not the market value
inflation indexation is not considered profit
In practice, in many cases, no sales tax arises.
To ensure the proper execution of a purchase and sale transaction, we recommend contacting INCOME MERSIN for transaction support services.
Average monthly expenses:
Aidat (complex maintenance)
~1,500 lira (≈ 30 euros)
paid regardless of residence
Compulsory Earthquake Insurance (DASK)
~500 lira per year
~40 lira per month
Water
~200 lira per month for a family of 3–4 people
if there is no residence, no credit is awarded
In some complexes water is free (wells)
Electricity
~1,000 lira per month
depends on the use of heating and boiler
In Mersin, water tariffs are set by the municipal water utility
MESKİ (Mersin Su ve Kanalizasyon İdaresi).
Water tariffs for residential properties in Mersin (2026)
| Volume of consumption | Water (TL/m³) | Sewerage (TL/m³) | Total (TL/m³) |
| 0–15 m³ | ~32.42 TL | ~14.59 TL | ~47.01 TL |
| 16–30 m³ | ~48.88 TL | ~22.01 TL | ~70.89 TL |
| 31–75 m³ | ~73.30 TL | ~32.98 TL | ~106.28 TL |
| 76 m³ and more | ~110.03 TL | ~49.48 TL | ~159.52 TL |
Explanations:
The price indicated is per 1 cubic meter, including sewerage
There is a progressive scale: the higher the consumption, the higher the tariff
Tariffs may be adjusted by the municipality in connection with inflation
As a guide, water in Mersin is on average cheaper than in Istanbul and Ankara.
In some residential complexes water is free (autonomous wells).
Aidat is a monthly payment for the maintenance of a residential complex and its common areas.
It is paid by apartment owners and, in some cases, tenants, if stipulated in the lease agreement.
Aidat usually includes:
- cleaning of entrances, halls, staircases and surrounding area;
- lighting of common areas;
- elevator maintenance;
- maintenance of the garden, lawns and grounds of the complex;
- garbage removal;
- work of a concierge, security or complex staff;
- maintenance of the swimming pool, hammam, sauna, gym and other infrastructure, if any;
- minor routine repairs of common areas;
- Maintenance of generators, pumps, automatic gates and other common house systems.
What does the size of the aidat depend on?
The size of the aidat depends on:
- level of the residential complex;
- area and infrastructure of the territory;
- availability of a swimming pool, security, fitness center, hammam, parking, generator;
- number of apartments in the building;
- personnel and maintenance costs.
It is important to understand
Aidat is not a tax, but rather a fee for the maintenance of the building and the comfort of living.
The more infrastructure a complex has, the higher the amount of the aidat.
Who sets the amount of aidat?
Typically, the amount of the aidat is determined by the management company, the service organization, or the decision of the general management of the complex.
Do you have to pay aidat if you don’t live in the apartment?
Yes. Even if the owner does not live in the apartment permanently, the aidat is usually paid, since the complex's maintenance costs arise regardless of whether the owner lives in the apartment or not
