Croatia to offer 50% VAT refund for first-time apartment buyers

Zagreb – As part of Croatia’s new housing policy, first-time buyers of newly constructed apartments will be eligible for a refund of up to 50% of the value-added tax (VAT). For those purchasing their first property that is not newly built, they will be exempt from paying the real estate sales tax.

This initiative is part of the National Plan for Housing Policy for 2025 and 2026, currently being developed by Croatia’s Ministry of Spatial Planning, Construction, and State Property, led by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Branko Bačić. The plan is expected to be presented to the public soon, as reported by Klix.ba.

The strategic document aims to make housing more affordable, especially for young families, by impacting the real estate market. The tax relief measures, including the VAT refund and real estate tax exemption, are intended to lower the cost of purchasing property. According to Jutarnji List, data from the 2021 census shows that Croatia has a total of 2.35 million housing units, of which 600,000 remain unoccupied.

Source: https://www.slobodenpecat.mk/en/koj-prvpat-kje-kupi-stan-vo-hrvatska-kje-mu-se-vratat-50-otsto-od-ddv/