Title Deed Fee Calculator

Title Deed Fee Calculator

Calculating the title deed fee is a critical step for anyone planning to buy or sell property in Türkiye — a home, land or commercial premises — in order to foresee the financial side of the transaction.

Especially given changes in property values and the digitalisation of transaction processes as of 2025, getting this calculation right is very important for budgeting and for avoiding unexpected surprises.

The title deed fee (tapu harcı), which forms the basis of this calculation, is a type of tax paid to the state during property transfer and acquisition transactions carried out at land registry offices under the General Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre.

This financial obligation arises in many different title deed transactions — such as sales, gifts and transfers by inheritance — and is mandatory for the transaction to become legally valid.

To calculate the title deed fee correctly, you need to know the declared value of the property (which cannot be lower than the market value determined by the relevant municipality), the applicable fee rate, and how the fee will be shared between the buyer and the seller.

These variables and legal details can sometimes make the process complicated, and this is where practical solutions such as a Title Deed Fee Calculator — the focus of this article — come in.

In this guide we explain what the title deed fee is, who pays it and at what rates, how it is paid, and all the other important details you need to know about the process.

Our aim is to make this important financial step of the transfer process clear for you and, with the help of our calculator, to help you determine the fee you need to pay easily and accurately.

How Is the Title Deed Fee Calculated?

The title deed fee is calculated by applying a certain rate to the sale price of the property. In the most common case — the sale of a home, land or commercial premises — it is usually calculated with the following formula:

Title Deed Fee = (Declared Sale Price of the Property) × (Title Deed Fee Rate)

As of May 2025, the standard title deed fee rate is generally 4% (four per cent).

However, as this rate may change from time to time through campaigns or legislative amendments, it is important to confirm the current rate before carrying out the transaction. Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, this 4% is usually shared equally between buyer and seller — 2% each.

It is a legal requirement that the "declared sale price" used for the calculation is not lower than the property's declared value (market value) obtained from the relevant municipality. If the sale price is declared below the market value, the fee is calculated on the higher market value.

Instead of doing these calculations manually, using the Title Deed Fee Calculator available on our website will make things much easier.

What Is the Title Deed Fee?

Put simply, the title deed fee is a tax (fee) paid to the state when ownership of a property in Türkiye (a house, land, shop, etc.) is transferred from one person to another, so that the transaction can be officially registered at the land registry offices of the General Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre.

This payment applies not only to sales but also to other transactions that change ownership in the land register, such as gifts and transfers by inheritance. Title transfers cannot be legally completed, and ownership cannot become official, without the fee being paid.

Who Pays the Title Deed Fee?

Under the Fees Law, unless the parties agree otherwise, the obligation to pay the title deed fee in property sales is shared equally (50%–50%) between the buyer and the seller. That is, the buyer pays 2% and the seller 2% of the standard total rate of 4%.

However, the buyer and seller may agree between themselves that one party pays the full fee. This does not prevent the official transaction at the land registry office; what matters is that the total fee is paid. In other transfers such as inheritance or gifts, who pays may differ (for example, in a gift the recipient usually pays).

Which Banks Accept Title Deed Fee Payments?

Title deed fees can generally be paid through branches, internet banking, mobile banking applications or ATMs of the banks contracted by the Ministry of Treasury and Finance. Some tax offices also collect title deed fees.

When you apply to the land registry office for the transfer, the fee to be paid is determined and a reference number (accrual number / e-collection serial number) is issued. This reference number is used when making the payment. The most accurate information on the current list of contracted banks and accepted payment methods can be obtained from the land registry office handling the transaction or from the Revenue Administration (GİB) website.

What You Need to Know About the Title Deed Fee and Taxes

Beyond the title deed fee, there are some additional financial obligations and tax matters you may encounter in property sales:

Property Tax: An annual tax paid by the owner of the property. After the sale, the new owner becomes liable for property tax, and the tax for the year of sale is usually shared between the former and new owner.

Value Added Tax (VAT): VAT may arise in particular on the first sale of new homes or commercial property by a developer. In this case the title deed fee is usually calculated on the price excluding VAT.

Capital Gains Tax: If an individual sells a property within the first 5 years of purchase and makes a gain (after certain exemptions and indexation), income tax (capital gains tax) may be payable on that gain.

Stamp Duty: Stamp duty may apply to certain official documents, such as a promise to sell real estate.
As these additional costs and tax matters vary depending on the nature of the transaction, it is advisable to seek advice from a certified public accountant or real estate expert, especially in complex cases.