CASATAX 2027: towards a new threshold and growing importance for homeownership in Geneva

The Geneva scheme could be raised again in 2027, in a context where property access remains particularly challenging

In Geneva, becoming a homeowner remains a significant goal for many households, yet it is also a journey fraught with obstacles: high property prices, the necessary equity, requirements set by financial institutions, and the financial capacity to bear a mortgage burden.

In this context, the CASATAX scheme holds a special place. Implemented to facilitate the acquisition of a property intended to become the buyer's primary residence, it notably allows for a reduction in registration duties.

Each year, the CASATAX thresholds are indexed according to the evolution of the Geneva construction price index. This mechanism therefore allows for the anticipation, with certain precautions, of the level that could be applicable starting from March 1, 2027.

CASATAX 2026: Where do we stand?

Since March 1, 2026, the property value ceiling for benefiting from CASATAX has been CHF 1'394'928.

The maximum reduction in the transfer tax amounts to CHF 20'924. The scheme also provides for a 50% reduction in the registration duty related to mortgage deeds.

This increase is the result of the annual indexation of the scheme. For 2026, the Geneva construction price index recorded an increase of approximately 1.4% between October 2024 and October 2025.

The mechanism is therefore relatively simple: CASATAX is not arbitrarily re-evaluated each year. It follows an indexation formula linked to construction prices.

And in 2027?

This is where one must distinguish between the official amount and the forecast.

The 2027 CASATAX amount will be determined based on the reference index provided for by the regulations. The indexed amounts are calculated each year and become applicable on March 1.

However, the data available in 2026 already provide some indications.

In April 2026, the Geneva construction price index showed an annual increase of 1.2%, with a slowdown in inflation compared to previous periods.

Obviously, this does not allow for certain knowledge of the index that will be used for CASATAX 2027. But it does allow for building a reasonable hypothesis.

Our indicative scenario for 2027

Taking the 2026 ceiling of CHF 1'394'928 as a starting point, various scenarios can be envisaged:

At this stage, a hypothesis around CHF 1.41 to 1.42 million appears to be a plausible order of magnitude, subject to the final evolution of the reference index.

As a working hypothesis, a ceiling around CHF 1'415'000 would therefore constitute a reasonable scenario for 2027.

However, this is not an official amount: the final figure will depend on the applicable indexation and will be set by the Canton.

Why is this evolution interesting?

At first glance, an increase of a few tens of thousands of francs in the CASATAX ceiling may seem relatively limited.

But in the Geneva market, this evolution can have practical significance.

The CASATAX ceiling acts as an important boundary for certain buyers of primary residences.

A property sold for CHF 1'390'000 may qualify for the scheme, while a property sold significantly above the ceiling may be excluded, subject to other legal conditions.

Indexation therefore allows the ceiling to progress with the evolution of construction costs rather than remaining fixed at its historical level.

CASATAX and property access: an interesting, yet indirect link

It would, however, be incorrect to say that CASATAX is directly indexed to the difficulty of accessing property.

This is not the case.

The mechanism is based on the evolution of construction prices. Its objective, however, is linked to a broader issue: facilitating the acquisition of a primary residence by reducing some of the costs associated with the transaction.

This distinction is important.

The difficulty of accessing property in Geneva does not stem solely from registration duties. It results from a set of factors:

• the acquisition price of the property;
• the limited availability of housing;
• the level of equity required;
• the financing criteria of banking institutions;
• the financial capacity of the buyer;
• the costs associated with the acquisition;
• and, more broadly, the gap between household incomes and property prices.

The Canton itself has reinforced in recent years the mechanisms designed to facilitate access to home ownership.

Since November 2024, for instance, Genevan legislation has allowed certain individuals who do not possess sufficient personal capital to apply for a state loan to supplement their own funds. This mechanism can be utilized by buyers who have at least 5% of equity, in order to supplement up to an additional 15% and thus reach the 20% generally required to obtain mortgage financing.

This demonstrates that the issue of access to property goes far beyond the sole question of CASATAX.

A ceiling that evolves, but a market that remains under pressure

The other element to consider is the evolution of the Genevan real estate market.

The cost of construction continues to rise, even if its pace has moderated. In April 2026, the Genevan construction price index still grew by 1.2% over one year.

At the same time, the rental market remains tight. In 2025, the average monthly rent for a free-market property reached CHF 1'639 for a four-room apartment and CHF 1'959 for a five-room apartment. For housing that changed tenants over the last twelve months, the levels were CHF 2'006 and CHF 2'496 respectively.

In this context, property ownership can represent for certain households not only a wealth-building project, but also a way to transform a portion of their financial housing efforts into capital accumulation.

However, one must still be able to overcome the first obstacle: entry into the market.

CASATAX does not solve the equity problem

This is likely one of the most important points to understand.

Even with a reduction of more than CHF 20'000 in registration duties, the buyer must still have the necessary means to finance their acquisition.

For a home of approximately CHF 1.4 million, the issue of equity therefore remains decisive.

It is precisely for this reason that the CASATAX measures and the mechanisms provided for by the LAPI must be considered as different but complementary instruments.

CASATAX reduces certain costs linked to the transaction.

LAPI provisions can, in certain situations, contribute to resolving the equity issue.

Towards a CASATAX ever closer to CHF 1.5 million?

The question will naturally arise in the coming years.

If the construction price index continues to rise, even at a moderate pace, the CASATAX ceiling will mechanically continue to increase.

Starting from a level of CHF 1'394'928 in 2026, a scenario of an average annual growth of 1.5% would lead approximately to:

• 2027: CHF 1.416 million
• 2028: CHF 1.437 million
• 2029: CHF 1.458 million
• 2030: CHF 1.480 million

It would therefore take several years of steady growth to approach the symbolic threshold of CHF 1.5 million.

This projection is obviously not an official forecast. It is simply a mathematical simulation based on a constant assumption of +1.5% per year.

What this could change for buyers

For purchasers of a primary residence, the progressive increase of the ceiling can have an interesting effect: it allows more housing in a slightly higher price range to remain potentially compatible with the scheme.

This can be particularly relevant in the segment of family apartments and certain new housing developments.

However, one must avoid an overly broad interpretation: CASATAX does not make a home cheaper.

It reduces certain fees linked to its acquisition.

The difference is significant.

In a market where acquisition prices are high, a few tens of thousands of francs in savings can nevertheless represent a significant difference for a household that finds itself close to its financing limit.

An evolution to be watched closely in 2027

For Genevan real estate professionals, the CASATAX level therefore constitutes an indicator to monitor every year.

The final amount applicable in 2027 will depend on the reference index used by the Canton. However, the data currently available suggest a ceiling situated around CHF 1.41 to 1.42 million, if the current construction cost dynamic continues.

More broadly, the evolution of CASATAX illustrates a fundamental issue of the Genevan market: access to property does not depend on a single figure.

The price of housing, equity, banking conditions, household income, transaction costs, and the availability of properties all play a role.

CASATAX constitutes one form of aid among these various parameters.

And in a canton where home ownership remains difficult for a significant portion of the population, every development of this mechanism deserves to be monitored with care.

Key Takeaways

CASATAX 2026 :

• Ceiling: CHF 1'394'928
• Maximum reduction in transfer tax: CHF 20'924
• Indexation: based on the Geneva construction price index
• Reduction of duties related to mortgage deeds: 50 %

CASATAX 2027 — indicative estimate :

• Central scenario: approximately CHF 1'415'000
• Indicative range: CHF 1.41 to 1.42 million
• Official amount: to be confirmed following the next cantonal indexation

Essential point: CASATAX is indexed to construction costs, and not directly to household financial accessibility. However, its evolution is part of a much broader issue: how can home ownership be facilitated in a Geneva market where the entry price remains high?