Property Buying Costs in Spain 2026: Taxes and Fees

The asking price is only part of the bill. In Spain the buyer normally pays the purchase tax, the notary, the land registry, a gestoría and a lawyer — and then, every year, local taxes and community fees. As a rule of thumb, for a home on the Costa Blanca or in Murcia you should budget roughly 10–14 % on top of the price. Below: where that figure comes from, plus a "per €100,000" table.

> Please note: purchase tax rates are set by Spain's autonomous regions (for us, the Comunitat Valenciana and the Región de Murcia) and they change from time to time. All figures below are indicative. This is general information — before you commit, talk to a lawyer (abogado) or tax adviser (asesor fiscal).

Resale or new build? It changes the tax

Resale homes: ITP

When you buy from a private owner, you pay ITP (Impuesto sobre Transmisiones Patrimoniales), the regional transfer tax.

• Comunitat Valenciana (Alicante, Torrevieja, Orihuela Costa, Benidorm and the rest of the Costa Blanca): the general rate has recently been around 9–10 %, with a higher band for very high-value properties. It has been adjusted several times, so check the current rate before signing.
• Región de Murcia (for example San Javier, Los Alcázares or Mazarrón): the general rate is usually around 8 %.

Reduced rates for young buyers or large families usually apply only to a main residence, so overseas holiday-home buyers rarely qualify.

ITP is calculated on the price in the deed, but never on less than the valor de referencia, a reference value published by the Spanish land registry office (Catastro). If you negotiate a bargain below that value, the tax is still charged on the higher figure.

New builds: VAT (IVA) plus AJD

Buying from a developer, you pay instead:

• IVA — Spanish VAT, normally 10 % for residential property. Plots, commercial units or parking spaces bought separately may carry 21 %.
• AJD (Actos Jurídicos Documentados) — stamp duty on the deed, typically around 1.5 % in both Valencia and Murcia (confirm the current rate).

VAT is usually paid in stages with each payment to the developer. CasaAqui will soon add new developments to its listings.

Transaction costs: notary, registry, gestoría and lawyer

Notary (notario). Spanish notaries charge according to an official scale based on the value and length of the deed. For a typical apartment expect roughly €600–1,200. By custom the buyer chooses and pays the notary for the sale deed, although the parties can agree otherwise.

Land Registry (Registro de la Propiedad). Registering you as the new owner usually costs around €400–800. Without registration you own the property but are not fully protected against third parties, so never skip it.

Gestoría. Pays the taxes, files the deed and tracks deadlines. Typically €300–600.

Lawyer (abogado). An independent lawyer checks the nota simple, debts to the community and the town hall, licences and whether the property matches the Catastro records, and drafts or reviews the reservation and deposit (arras) contracts. Fees are often around 1 % of the price, usually with a minimum.

Translation, NIE and bank account. If you are not fluent in Spanish, the notary may require an interpreter at signing. You will also need an NIE number (a small official fee — see our guide to the NIE number) and, in practice, a Spanish bank account.

If you are buying with a mortgage

Since 2019 (Ley 5/2019) the lender pays most of the costs linked to the mortgage itself: the notary for the mortgage deed, registering the mortgage, the gestoría and the stamp duty on the loan. As a borrower you mainly pay:

• the tasación — an official valuation by an approved firm, usually €300–600;
• any arrangement fee, if the bank charges one;
• buildings insurance (compulsory with a mortgage) and, if you choose it in exchange for a better rate, life insurance;
• a broker's fee, if you use one.

Our guide to mortgages in Spain for foreign buyers covers this in more detail.

Plusvalía municipal — who pays it?

The plusvalía municipal (IIVTNU) is a local tax on the increase in land value. By law it is the seller's liability, and on resale purchases that is how it normally works. Make sure the contract says so explicitly. Some developer contracts try to pass it on to the buyer — have your lawyer read the small print.

If the seller is non-resident in Spain, the buyer must withhold 3 % of the price and pay it to the tax office on account of the seller's capital gains tax. It is not an extra cost to you; the notary or lawyer handles it at completion.

Example table: costs per €100,000 of price

Indicative amounts for a typical home bought without a mortgage. Rates can change — use this as a starting point for a conversation with your lawyer.

Running costs once you own the property

Owning a home in Spain has annual costs too. Plan for:

• IBI (Impuesto sobre Bienes Inmuebles) — the yearly local property tax, based on the cadastral value and the town hall's rate. For a typical coastal apartment, often somewhere between €200 and €700 a year; more for larger villas.
• Community fees (comunidad de propietarios) — shared areas, pool, gardens, lift. From a few dozen euros a month in a small block to considerably more on complexes with extensive facilities.
• Basura — the municipal rubbish collection charge, usually from a few dozen euros to around €150–200 a year, sometimes added to the IBI or water bill.
• Utilities and home insurance — standing charges apply even when the home is empty; insurance is often €150–400 a year.
• IRNR — non-resident income tax. If you are not tax resident in Spain, you file an annual return (modelo 210). If the home is for your own use and not let, Spain taxes a deemed income — a percentage of the cadastral value (usually 1.1 % or 2 %) — at 19 % for EU/EEA residents and 24 % for others, including UK residents after Brexit. In practice this is often around €100 to a few hundred euros a year. If you rent the property out, you declare the actual rental income instead, and you may also have to report it in your home country under the relevant double tax treaty.

Tax residents of Spain file IRPF instead of IRNR.

Before you negotiate, ask for the latest IBI receipt, a certificate that community fees are paid and any planned extra levies (derramas). For the full journey from reservation to keys, see our step-by-step guide to buying property in Spain.

Let's work out your numbers — CasaAqui Costa

At https://casaaqui.eu you'll find more than 1,600 homes for sale on the Costa Blanca and in the Murcia region. For any of them we can estimate the full purchase cost with you, and help with your NIE, bank account, translation and the notary appointment. Message us on WhatsApp: +34 652 899 274.