Buyer Questions for Title Transfer Fees in Türkiye
A buyer needs more than the question “How much are the fees?” Every amount should be testable against the transaction type, property, declared value, property-tax value, current tariff, official collection reference and receipt. The following questions turn a closing-cost quote into a file that can be independently checked before funds are released.
1. What transaction type was used for the calculation?
Ask whether the file is an ordinary sale. If it is a gift, partition, exchange or another type of transfer, do not accept a sale calculation automatically. The cost sheet should identify the legal transaction being charged.
2. What value is the fee based on?
Request three separate figures: the real agreed sale price, the value intended to be declared and the current municipal property-tax value. TKGM explains that the sale fee is calculated on the declared value, which may not be lower than the property-tax value. If the reviewer cannot tell which figure was used, the calculation is not ready to approve.
3. What is the official buyer amount and seller amount?
Current TKGM sale guidance states 20 per thousand separately for the buyer and 20 per thousand separately for the seller. Ask for both lines. If the parties privately agree that the buyer will economically carry an additional amount, ask where that allocation is written and how it will be settled; do not confuse it with the official assessment.
4. What revolving-fund charge applies?
Ask for the amount, service type and tariff year. TKGM announced that the 2026 revolving-fund tariff applies from 1 January 2026. Do not accept “same as the previous deal” without checking. The revolving-fund charge is separate from title-deed tax.
5. Are private costs hidden inside the fee quote?
Ask whether the number includes broker commission, translation, legal work or another private service. Each private cost should be named honestly. If someone provides one amount called “government fees” without itemisation, ask for a line-by-line breakdown before paying.
6. What is the official collection reference?
Ask for the e‑Tahsilat or other official reference tied to your current application. TKGM states that the e‑Tahsilat number is 12 or 13 digits. Match it to the transaction instead of relying on a detached screenshot forwarded by another party.
7. Where will I pay?
Ask which official or supported banking channel will be used. A government charge should not be routed to a personal account or unknown payment link. A private professional fee should be paid as a private fee under its own agreement.
8. What should the receipt show?
Request a complete receipt showing the reference, amount, date and payment channel so it can be traced to the transaction. Also clarify who will pay each party’s assessed amount and who will retain the complete electronic or original receipt.
9. What happens if the amount changes before the appointment?
Agree the control process in advance: do not automatically pay a new difference. Identify the cause, verify the collection reference and update the reconciliation worksheet. A legitimate tariff or value correction should be documentable.
10. Is an exemption or special rule being claimed?
If someone says an exemption or special transaction changes the charge, ask for the competent legal basis or official confirmation. Unusual cases should be escalated rather than forced into the ordinary-sale formula.
11. Does foreign-buyer status create an automatic extra sale fee?
Do not assume an invented “foreigner title fee.” A foreign-party transaction may have additional document, translation, valuation or procedural costs depending on the case, but each should be separated from the statutory sale fee and supported by its own basis.
12. What should I retain?
Keep the calculation, value base, tariff source, collection reference, every official receipt and any written agreement about economic allocation between buyer and seller. The goal is to prove what was paid, for which transaction and why.
Immediate stop questions
- Why does the requested amount not reconcile to the calculation?
- Why is there no official collection reference?
- Why is a government charge going to a personal account?
- Why does the declared value differ from the contract or payment evidence?
- Why is a private commission being labelled a land-registry fee?
Frequently asked questions
When does a revolving-fund charge become a material risk?
When an old amount is used, the charge cannot be tied to the current tariff and service, or it is bundled with unrelated costs.
What should the buyer retain about the revolving-fund charge?
The tariff source and year, transaction collection reference and official payment receipt.
Does today’s revolving-fund payment determine the tax treatment of a later resale?
Not automatically. Preserve the evidence, but future tax treatment should be checked under the GİB rules in force when relevant.
Is the agent’s statement enough to prove the fees?
No. Ask for figures, references, sources and receipts that can be independently verified.
This question set is for practical due diligence and does not replace transaction-specific legal or tax advice.