When you own real estate, one of the recurring obligations you face is property tax. Paid annually to the municipality, it covers all immovables — homes, commercial units, plots and land. This article explains how property tax is calculated, the role of market value, payment periods and who is exempt.
What Is Property Tax?
Property tax is an annual tax levied on the real estate you own and paid to the municipality where the property is located. Buildings, plots and land all fall within its scope. The amount depends on the type of property and the value set by the municipality.
Market Value and the Tax Base
The tax base is the property's market value. For plots and land it is based on minimum per-square-metre unit values determined by municipalities every four years; for buildings it also accounts for land share and construction cost. This value is updated each year by half of the revaluation rate, so changes in market value directly affect the tax you pay.
Property Tax Rates
Rates are set per mille by property type: 1 per mille for residences, 2 per mille for other buildings, 3 per mille for plots and 1 per mille for land. Within metropolitan municipalities such as Antalya these rates are applied with a 100% increase — so 2 per mille for a residence, 4 for commercial units and 6 for plots.
Example Calculation
For a residence with a market value of 2,000,000 TL within Antalya (metropolitan) limits, the 2 per mille rate applies: 2,000,000 × 0.002 = 4,000 TL per year. A plot of the same value, at 6 per mille, would be taxed 12,000 TL.
When Is It Paid?
Property tax is paid in two equal instalments. The first can be paid during March, April and May; the second during November. You may also pay both in the first period at once. Payments can be made at the municipal desk, online or via partner banks.
Exemptions and Reductions
Owners of a single residence not exceeding 200 m² — pensioners, homemakers, the unemployed, people with disabilities, veterans and families of martyrs — may qualify for a zero (reduced) rate, subject to application to the municipality.
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