Local taxes 2026. How much you pay for apartments and businesses in big cities. In Sector 1 of the Capital, the tax almost doubled

Local housing taxes have increased significantly from 1 January 2026, so both individuals and companies are paying more for second-hand apartments.

Local property taxes have increased significantly from January 1, 2026. File photo

The local tax increase for natural persons was ordered by Package 2 of fiscal measures, namely the modification of the taxable value grid from the Fiscal Code.

On average, we are talking about a 70-80% increase in the local tax on apartments, in some places even slightly higher.

It is worth noting that the property tax on the house is paid equally by the spouses and according to the share held.

Thus, for an apartment in Sector 1 of the Capital, for which in 2025 the tax was 366 lei, in 2026 it reached 686 lei, each of the spouses paying the sum of 343 lei this year, 87% more than last year, as a result of the changes made to the tax value grid.

Also, for an apartment in Popești Leordeni, for which last year the tax was 400 lei, in 2026 approximately 720 lei will be paid.

In Sector 6, for a 3-room apartment, the amount of payment in 2026 reached 640 lei, claims an internet user.

“640 lei for a 3-room apartment in Bucharest in sector 6. Happy New Year, January 1, 2016, is New Year's Eve. Fixed on New Year's Eve”. He also showed how much he pays for the parking space and the car tax, but the biggest surprise was related to the apartment. The man has to pay 302 lei, his share, and “half is shown to his wife. She still has 18 lei (no parking space) and 302”wrote a user on TikTok.

Another announced on Facebook that for a 2-room apartment for which last year he paid a tax of 480 lei, in 2026 the amount of payment is 870 lei.

And on Reddit, Romanians are commenting on how much their house taxes have increased since January 1, 2026.

“From 150 to 300 lei for a studio apartment in Sector 3”, writes a discussion participant.

“From 270 to 440“, another internet user writes.

“From 386 to 708”said another.

“Of course. As I said, I will pay them towards the end of the year eroded by inflation, as are our incomes”another netizen wrote.

On the table introduced by Law 239/2025, we have an increase in the taxable value per square meter from 1,000 lei to 2,677 lei, for apartments per individual.

Expert: Increased the taxable base of buildings

Business consultant Gianina Crăciun, founder of Supertree Workspaces & More, explained to “Adevărul” that the calculation structure of local taxes does not fundamentally change. “The current legislation provides for the taxation of buildings based on taxable value × differentiated rate for residential / non-residential / mixed. The same logic remains for 2026″, stated Christmas for “truth“.

According to her, the taxable amount is significantly higher this year. “Even if the calculation structure remains, the law published in the Official Gazette increases the taxable base of buildings, which in practice leads to higher payment amounts.

Local governments cannot reduce below the threshold in 2025. The bill makes it clear that municipalities cannot set tax rates for 2026 lower than those applicable in 2025.

Updated official data on the new exact taxable values ​​per square meter for 2026 (eg by MFP Order or HCGMB update) — these values ​​are not yet officially published on the websites of tax institutions or municipalities (to date).

Reported situations indicate increases of up to ~80% compared to 2025, but remain indicative until detailed rules are published”said the specialist.

House taxes increase by 70-80%

On average, we are talking about a 70-80% increase in the local tax on apartments owned by legal entities, from January 1, 2026, according to the estimate made by real estate agent Georgian Marcu. In money, it means that people will pay a few hundred lei more than now. This is until the governors change the tax again, to reflect “market value” of properties, whatever that means.

For residential buildings and annex buildings, owned by individuals, the building tax is calculated by applying a rate between 0.08% – 0.2%, on the taxable value of the building. The tax rate on buildings is established by a decision of the local council. At the level of the municipality of Bucharest, this attribution rests with the General Council of the Municipality of Bucharest, according to the Fiscal Code, as before.

Also, for both legal entities and individuals, the building tax rate set for 2026, by local authorities, cannot be lower than the rate set for 2025. This provision was maintained in Fiscal Package 2.

Local taxes for companies

The upcoming local tax change will affect both individuals and legal entities.

Law 239/2025 also contained provisions that increased the local tax rate on apartments purchased by the company by 7 times. Two days after the publication of the Law in the Official Gazette, the Bologna Government issued an emergency ordinance and suspended these provisions.

Thus, the Emergency Ordinance 78/2025 orders that the provisions of Law 239/2025 (Fiscal Package 2), regarding the increase of the local tax on companies' real estate, enter into force from January 1, 2027.

Thus, legal entities will be taxed with rates between 0.08% and 0.2% on the taxable value of the building, in the year 2026. The tax rate in the residential regime for companies is thus maintained.

Thus, we do not get rid of new tax increases, because from 2027 the state intends to introduce taxation at the “market value of real estate”.

“The current tax regime for residential buildings is maintained until 2027, including for legal entities, following that from 2027 itaxation to be done on the basis of market valueaccording to the reform assumed by PNRR“, the Government announced in a statement.

StartupCafe.ro exemplified the taxes that companies will pay on buildings in 2026, in Bucharest, Cluj, Timișoara, Iași, Constanța and other large cities in Romania.

For example:

Bucharest

• Residential buildings – 0.2%

• Non-residential buildings – 1.5%

Cluj-Napoca

• Residential buildings – 0.1%

• Non-residential buildings – 1%

Timisoara

• Residential buildings – 0.1%

• Non-residential buildings – 1.3% + 16%

IASI

• Residential buildings – 0.1%

• Non-residential buildings – 1.1%

Constant

• Residential buildings – 0.2%

• Non-residential buildings – 1.3% + 30.8%

Braşov

• Residential buildings – 0.2% + 0.1% (50% increase)

• Non-residential buildings – 1.3% + 0.5% (38.5% increase)

Sibiu

• Residential buildings – 0.2% + 25%

• Non-residential buildings – 1.3% + 16%

Oradea

• Residential buildings – 0.3% (0.2%+0.1%) – by applying the additional quota of 50%

• Non-residential buildings – 1.15%

Craiova

• Residential buildings – 0.2%

• Non-residential buildings – 1.3% + 10%