11/02/2026
⚜️HOW TO TRANSFER PROPERTY TITLE IN THE PHILIPPINES⚜️
I. PRE-TRANSFER REQUIREMENTS✅️
- Document Preparation
- Original Owner's Duplicate Certificate of Title (OCT/TCT)
- Notarized Deed of Absolute Sale (DAS) or relevant transfer document (e.g., Deed of Donation, Extra-Judicial Settlement)
- Latest Real Property Tax (RPT) Receipts and Tax Clearance from the Local Treasurer's Office
- Certificate of No Improvement (CNI) or Building Permit (if there are structures) from the City/Municipal Assessor's Office
- Transfer Tax Declaration from the Assessor's Office
- Valid IDs of buyer, seller, and all signatories
- Verification Steps
- Confirm title authenticity at the Registry of Deeds (RD)
- Check for liens, encumbrances, or pending cases on the property
- Verify that the property is not covered by government restrictions (e.g., agrarian reform, heritage sites)
II. PAYMENT OF TAXES AND FEES✅️
- Required Payments
- Capital Gains Tax (CGT): 6% of the property's fair market value (FMV) or selling price (whichever is higher) – paid by the seller
- Documentary Stamp Tax (DST): 1.5% of FMV or selling price – paid by the buyer
- Transfer Tax: 0.5% to 0.75% of FMV (varies by location) – paid by the buyer
- Registration Fees: Based on property value – paid by the buyer
- Notarial Fees: For preparing and notarizing documents
- Miscellaneous Fees: For clearances, certifications, and processing
- Where to Pay
- CGT and DST: Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) office with jurisdiction over the property
- Transfer Tax and RPT: Local Treasurer's Office of the city/municipality where the property is located
- Registration Fees: Registry of Deeds
III. SUBMISSION OF DOCUMENTS✅️
- To the BIR
- Submit all required documents along with proof of tax payments to secure a Certificate Authorizing Registration (CAR) and Tax Clearance
- To the Local Assessor's Office
- Submit CAR, DAS, and tax receipts to process the Transfer of Tax Declaration and issue a new tax declaration in the buyer's name
- To the Registry of Deeds
- Submit CAR, original title, DAS, transfer tax receipt, and registration fees to process the title transfer
- The RD will cancel the old title and issue a new Owner's Duplicate Certificate of Title in the buyer's name
IV. POST-TRANSFER STEPS✅️
- Secure the new Owner's Duplicate Certificate of Title from the Registry of Deeds
- Update records with utility providers (water, electricity, internet) using the new title and tax declaration
- Keep all documents in a safe place (original and certified true copies)
- Ensure timely payment of future real property taxes to avoid penalties
‼️This serves only as general steps in the transfer of title, or that process may vary depending on the availability of the required documents at hand. It is better to engage a professional Real Estate Broker and/or Lawyer for specific real estate/legal matters.
