{"id":1306,"date":"2017-12-18T13:00:13","date_gmt":"2017-12-18T12:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.confianz.be\/?p=1306"},"modified":"2026-04-17T12:57:52","modified_gmt":"2026-04-17T10:57:52","slug":"spanish-taxes-on-purchase-of-second-residence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.confianz.be\/en\/spaanse-belastingen-op-aankoop-tweede-verblijf\/","title":{"rendered":"Spanish taxes when buying a second residence"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-path-to-node=\"6\"><b>When buying a second residence in Spain, on top of the purchase price, you should count on a cost rate between 10% and 15%.<\/b> This percentage includes taxes (VAT or transfer tax), notary fees, registration fees and legal guidance. The exact percentage depends on two crucial factors: the region you are buying in and whether it is new construction or existing property (resale).<\/p>\n<h2>1. The Difference between New Construction and Existing Property<\/h2>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"9\"><b>Direct Answer:<\/b> Tax treatment in Spain is strictly separated based on the state of the property. For new construction, you will pay <b>IVA (VAT)<\/b> and stamp duty (<b>AJD<\/b>). For existing property, you only pay <b>ITP (Transfer Tax)<\/b>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h3>New building: IVA and AJD<\/h3>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"11\">When you buy a property directly from the developer (first occupancy), this is subject to Spanish VAT, or <b>IVA<\/b> (<i>Impuesto sobre el Valor A\u00f1adido<\/i>).<\/p>\n<ul data-path-to-node=\"12\">\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"12,0,0\"><b>The tariff:<\/b> Throughout Spain (mainland and Balearic Islands), the IVA is <b>10%<\/b> on the purchase price. (Note: In the Canary Islands, the IGIC of 7% applies).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"12,1,0\"><b>Storage:<\/b> On top of the IVA there is always the Stamp Duty, or <b>AJD<\/b> (<i>Actos Jur\u00eddicos Documentados<\/i>). This varies by region, but is generally between <b>1.2% and 1.5%<\/b>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Existing Property: ITP<\/h3>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"14\">Are you buying a property from a private individual (resale)? If so, you will not pay VAT, but Transfer Tax, or <b>ITP<\/b> (<i>Impuesto de Transmisiones Patrimoniales<\/i>).<\/p>\n<ul data-path-to-node=\"15\">\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"15,0,0\"><b>No AJD:<\/b> When paying ITP, there is <b>no<\/b> separate stamp duty payable on the purchase deed.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"15,1,0\"><b>Regional differences:<\/b> Unlike the national VAT, the ITP is determined by the autonomous regions.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<blockquote data-path-to-node=\"16\">\n<p data-path-to-node=\"16,0\"><b>Expert Insight:<\/b> <i>\"Many Belgian buyers make the mistake of calculating their budget based on fixed percentages. In regions such as Valencia, the difference between an old rate and the current rate can save thousands of euros. Always calculate with the current regional tables is crucial.\"<\/i>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h2>2. Regional Tax Rates: Where do you pay what?<\/h2>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"19\">The location of your property directly determines the amount of the ITP (on resale). As Spain is made up of autonomous regions, rates vary considerably.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"20\">Below is an overview of the most popular regions for Belgian investors:<\/p>\n<table data-path-to-node=\"21\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Region (Costa)<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Load type<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Tariff (2024\/2025)<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Comment<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"21,1,0,0\"><b>Comunidad Valenciana<\/b> (Costa Blanca)<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"21,1,1,0\">ITP (Existing)<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"21,1,2,0\"><b>9% or 11%<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"21,1,3,0\">Fixed rate. Increased rate for purchases &gt; 1M euros.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"21,2,0,0\"><b>Andalusia<\/b> (Costa del Sol)<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"21,2,1,0\">ITP (Existing)<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"21,2,2,0\"><b>7%<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"21,2,3,0\">Recently lowered (previously progressive to 10%).<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"21,3,0,0\"><b>Murcia<\/b> (Costa C\u00e1lida)<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"21,3,1,0\">ITP (Existing)<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"21,3,2,0\"><b>7,75%<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"21,3,3,0\">Flat rate. (formerly 8%)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"21,4,0,0\"><b>Catalonia<\/b> (Costa Brava)<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"21,4,1,0\">ITP (Existing)<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"21,4,2,0\"><b>10 - 20%<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"21,4,3,0\">Can increase for very expensive properties or if you qualify as a 'large owner'<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"21,5,0,0\"><b>Balearic Islands<\/b> (Ibiza\/Mallorca)<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"21,5,1,0\">ITP (Existing)<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"21,5,2,0\"><b>8% - 13%<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"21,5,3,0\">Progressive rate: the more expensive the property, the higher the tax.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"21,6,0,0\"><b>All of Spain<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"21,6,1,0\">IVA (New construction)<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"21,6,2,0\"><b>10%<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"21,6,3,0\">Excluding Canary Islands.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2>3. Additional Costs: Notary, Register and Lawyer<\/h2>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"24\">Besides taxes to the tax authorities, you will need to budget for administrative and legal matters. For this, count on approximately <b>3,000 to 5,000 euros<\/b>, depending on complexity and purchase price.<\/p>\n<ul data-path-to-node=\"25\">\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"25,0,0\"><b>Notary fees:<\/b> The Spanish notary (<i>Notario<\/i>) charges a fee based on a legal scale, related to the value of the property. Count on \u20ac2,000.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"25,1,0\"><b>Registration fee:<\/b> Registering the deed in the Spanish property register (<i>Registro de la Propiedad<\/i>) is mandatory for legal certainty. Count on \u20ac800.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"25,2,0\"><b>Legal guidance:<\/b> Engaging a specialised law firm such as Confianz is essential. After all, the notary in Spain has <b>no obligation to investigate<\/b> as in Belgium. Your lawyer will check debts, illegality and permits. Expect around 1% of the purchase price plus VAT.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Spanish mortgage<\/strong>: If you are considering taking out a mortgage loan to finance your home, it is best to take extra costs into account.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.confianz.be\/en\/mortgage-in-spain\/\">\u00a0Find the cost of a mortgage in Spain here.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>4. Note: The 'Plusval\u00eda Municipal'<\/h2>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"28\"><b>Direct Answer:<\/b> The Plusval\u00eda is a municipal tax on the increase in value of land, which is legally imposed by the <b>seller<\/b> must be paid.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"29\">However, in practice (and especially in older contracts), sellers sometimes try to pass this cost on to the buyer.<\/p>\n<ul data-path-to-node=\"30\">\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"30,0,0\"><b>Legal advice:<\/b> Never blindly accept a contract stating that <i>all charges and taxes<\/i> be for the buyer (\"gastos seg\u00fan ley\" is the safe wording). You should remove this from the contract if it is charged to the buyer.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Frequently asked questions (FAQ)<\/h2>\n<h3>What is the total cost of buyer in Spain in 2025?<\/h3>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"35\">You should count on a total percentage of <b>10% to 15%<\/b> on top of the purchase price. In regions with low ITP (such as Andalusia with 7%), you are closer to 10-11%. In regions with high ITP (such as Valencia with 10%) or new construction (10% IVA + 1.5% AJD), you are closer to the 13-15%.<\/p>\n<h3>Do I pay tax in Belgium on my second residence in Spain?<\/h3>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"37\">No, you do not pay purchase tax in Belgium. However, you do have to declare the Spanish property in your Belgian tax return. Since 2022, a <b>Cadastral Income (KI)<\/b> allocated to your foreign property. You are taxed on the basis of this KI, but due to the double taxation treaty with Spain, you enjoy a tax reduction (progression allowance).<\/p>\n<h3>Is new construction more fiscally advantageous than existing property?<\/h3>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"39\">Generally speaking, <b>existing property (resale) more tax-efficient<\/b> in regions such as Andalusia (7% ITP vs 11.2% IVA+AJD). In regions such as Costa Blanca (Valencia), the difference is smaller, as the ITP there is also 10%, similar to the 10% IVA for new builds (excluding stamp duty).<\/p>\n<h3>When should Spanish purchase taxes be paid?<\/h3>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"41\">Taxes (ITP or IVA\/AJD) should usually be within <b>30 days<\/b> After signing the notarial deed (the <i>Escritura<\/i>) must be paid. Late payment results immediately in fines and interest from the Spanish tax authorities (<i>Hacienda<\/i>). In some regions, such as Andalusia, the term is <strong>60 days.<\/strong><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"41\">About the author: Glenn Janssens is a lawyer specialising in Spanish real estate transactions and tax regulations. Since 2017, he has been helping Belgian and Dutch individuals and entrepreneurs to safely purchase and structure real estate in Spain. He guides files from A to Z: from due diligence, ownership and tax control to estate planning and optimisation for residents and non-residents. Thanks to his years of experience, hundreds of handled files and focus on transparent communication, Glenn makes complex Spanish legislation understandable and practically applicable for every property buyer.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n<p>Update: December 2025<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Bij de aankoop van een tweede verblijf in Spanje moet u bovenop de aankoopprijs rekenen op een kostenpercentage tussen de 10% en 15%. Dit percentage omvat de belastingen (BTW of overdrachtsbelasting), notariskosten, registratierechten en juridische begeleiding. Het exacte percentage is afhankelijk van twee cruciale factoren: de regio waarin u koopt en of het gaat om [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":29731,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[138,130,135],"tags":[14,194,195],"class_list":["post-1306","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-aankoop-in-spanje","category-kopen-costa-blanca","category-belastingen-in-spanje","tag-aankopen-in-spanje","tag-onroerend-goed","tag-spaanse-belastingen"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.confianz.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1306","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.confianz.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.confianz.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.confianz.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.confianz.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1306"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.confianz.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1306\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":33594,"href":"https:\/\/www.confianz.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1306\/revisions\/33594"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.confianz.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29731"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.confianz.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1306"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.confianz.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1306"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.confianz.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1306"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}