Questions from expats
Today I will respond to several questions about different topics. The first question is about tapu fees, or title transfer fees.
Today I will respond to several questions about different topics. The first question is about tapu fees, or title transfer fees.
“Dear Sadettin, I want to purchase an apartment (daire) in Turkey. How much should I pay tapu fees and who pays (seller or purchaser) these fees in the Turkish property transferring system?”
Dear reader, the total amount of a deed transfer tax depends on the selling price of the property. Until the last year, the tax rate was 3 percent of the actual purchase price. However, this year all fees have been increased by 10 percent with a general communiqué issued annually by the Ministry of Finance. Therefore, the deed transfer tax is now being applied at a rate of 3.3 percent.
Officially, the tapu fees should be paid by both sides (seller and purchaser). The transfer tax is divided equally between the seller and the purchaser, i.e., 1.65 percent for each party. However, in practice, the purchaser usually pays the whole lot.
The other question is about social security registration. He asks:
“Dear Orhan, I am working in United Kingdom, and I registered with the U.K.’s social security system. Besides this, I became a member of the board of a company in Turkey. In this case, should I register with the Turkish social security system? Many thanks.”
As a general rule, the Turkish social security system covers foreigners. However, some exceptions are located in Law numbered 5510 for foreigners. In this law, clause (e) of the first subclause of Article 6, entitled “Not Regarded as Insured,” is as follows:
“While implementing this Law’s provisions about short and long termed insurance branches; those who are sent to Turkey with a mission by and on behalf of an institution established abroad and can certify subjecting to insurance in their own country; and the self-employed people working on its behalf who reside abroad and are subject to social security legislation of their own country are not regarded as insured,according to Articles 4 and 5 of this law.” The other exception is located in Article 5 of the law.
According to these arrangements, these groups are not considered insured:
· Citizens of countries which have signed a social security agreement with Turkey based on the reciprocity principal,
· People who are sent to Turkey with a mission by and on behalf of an institution established abroad and can certify subjecting to insurance in their own country,
· Self-employed people working on its behalf who reside abroad and are subject to social security legislation of their own country.
In this sense, for you are insured by the U.K. social security system, you do not need to be insured in Turkey.
The last question is about work permits. The question reads:
“Hi Orhan. I want to work in Turkey as an engineer. I applied for a work permit last year, but my application was rejected. Can I reapply for a work permit?”
Of course you can re-apply. Work permit applications are not limited in Work Permit legislation. You can apply as you want.
Hurriyet Daily News/23.07.2010
Today I will respond to several questions about different topics. The first question is about tapu fees, or title transfer fees.
“Dear Sadettin, I want to purchase an apartment (daire) in Turkey. How much should I pay tapu fees and who pays (seller or purchaser) these fees in the Turkish property transferring system?”
Dear reader, the total amount of a deed transfer tax depends on the selling price of the property. Until the last year, the tax rate was 3 percent of the actual purchase price. However, this year all fees have been increased by 10 percent with a general communiqué issued annually by the Ministry of Finance. Therefore, the deed transfer tax is now being applied at a rate of 3.3 percent.
Officially, the tapu fees should be paid by both sides (seller and purchaser). The transfer tax is divided equally between the seller and the purchaser, i.e., 1.65 percent for each party. However, in practice, the purchaser usually pays the whole lot.
The other question is about social security registration. He asks:
“Dear Orhan, I am working in United Kingdom, and I registered with the U.K.’s social security system. Besides this, I became a member of the board of a company in Turkey. In this case, should I register with the Turkish social security system? Many thanks.”
As a general rule, the Turkish social security system covers foreigners. However, some exceptions are located in Law numbered 5510 for foreigners. In this law, clause (e) of the first subclause of Article 6, entitled “Not Regarded as Insured,” is as follows:
“While implementing this Law’s provisions about short and long termed insurance branches; those who are sent to Turkey with a mission by and on behalf of an institution established abroad and can certify subjecting to insurance in their own country; and the self-employed people working on its behalf who reside abroad and are subject to social security legislation of their own country are not regarded as insured,according to Articles 4 and 5 of this law.” The other exception is located in Article 5 of the law.
According to these arrangements, these groups are not considered insured:
· Citizens of countries which have signed a social security agreement with Turkey based on the reciprocity principal,
· People who are sent to Turkey with a mission by and on behalf of an institution established abroad and can certify subjecting to insurance in their own country,
· Self-employed people working on its behalf who reside abroad and are subject to social security legislation of their own country.
In this sense, for you are insured by the U.K. social security system, you do not need to be insured in Turkey.
The last question is about work permits. The question reads:
“Hi Orhan. I want to work in Turkey as an engineer. I applied for a work permit last year, but my application was rejected. Can I reapply for a work permit?”
Of course you can re-apply. Work permit applications are not limited in Work Permit legislation. You can apply as you want.
Hurriyet Daily News/23.07.2010
