Hi all,
I‘m in process of buying a property in canton Baselland. It is a canton that applies property transfer tax, normally of 2.5%, shared equally between buyer and seller.

However, there is an exemption if we declare that this property was acquired as an exclusively and permanently owner-occupied home.

Reference is made in sales contract to this tax but also to the exemption (likely a boilerplate template).

Baselland site states, „ In addition, the property transfer tax is not levied on the purchaser if he purchases a property as exclusively and permanently owner-occupied residential property (declaration of exemption from transfer tax). However, the seller is also exempt from this tax when selling permanently and exclusively owner-occupied property, provided that the proceeds are usually used within two years to purchase a replacement property that is used in the same way in Switzerland (registration form for properties in private assets)“.

This is a new build sold by developer so I‘m guessing the seller is liable but this will clearly be an owner-occupied property (family house).

So, is there a specific definition of „owner occupied property“, such as a multi-family house and i‘m therefore following a lead to folly, or could we really be exempt from the 1.25% property transfer tax?

Link to Basellland‘s own law below:

https://www.baselland.ch/politik-und...nd3_082_01.pdf

Thanks in advance for anything which helps clarify the issue.
I also guess it‘s one for the notary...

I would think it's fairly simple (although I may be wrong).

If you own a property and are registered there for tax purposes, the authorities will consider you to be an owner occupier.

i bought a house to live in in basel-land. no transfer tax. i know someone who bought a flat. also no transfer tax.

In Solothurn the notar gave us a paper to compile where we declared we were going to live there

A simple paper filled, no tax