When buying a property in Spain, it is important to be aware of the key taxes involved, as this can save you time, stress and money.
- For resale properties, you pay ITP (Property Transfer Tax)
- For new builds, you pay VAT (10%) plus AJD (around 1–1.2%)
⏳ Important: you typically have 30 days after signing at the notary office to pay these taxes.
💡 What you need:
– A Spanish bank account (to pay taxes locally)
– An NIE number
– Legal support or guidance
From experience, having a digital certificate (firma digital) is a real advantage — it allows you to handle most procedures online and bypass a lot of bureaucracy.
📊 After purchase:
It is highly recommended that you work with a gestor (accountant), especially if you:
– rent the property
– plan to resell (flip)
This ensures that everything is compliant and optimised from day one.
Property Purchase Taxes in Spain by Region (2026)
| Region / Autonomous Community | ITP (Resale) | VAT (New Build) | AJD (Stamp Duty) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andalusia (Costa del Sol, Málaga, Marbella) | 7% | 10% | 1.2% |
| Madrid | 6% | 10% | 0.75% |
| Catalonia (Barcelona, Girona) | 10% | 10% | 1.5% |
| Valencia (Alicante, Costa Blanca) | 10% | 10% | 1.5% |
| Balearic Islands (Mallorca, Ibiza) | 8% – 11.5% (progressive) | 10% | 1.5% |
| Canary Islands | 6.5% | 7% (IGIC) | 1.2% |
| Murcia | 8% | 10% | 1.5% |
| Castilla-La Mancha | 9% | 10% | 1.25% |
| Castilla y León | 8% – 10% | 10% | 1.5% |
| Aragón | 8% – 10% | 10% | 1.5% |
| Galicia | 10% | 10% | 1.5% |
| Basque Country | 4% | 10% | 0.5% |
| Navarra | 6% | 10% | 0.5% |
| Asturias | 8% – 10% | 10% | 1.2% |
| Cantabria | 9% – 10% | 10% | 1.5% |
| La Rioja | 7% | 10% | 1% |
| Extremadura | 8% – 11% | 10% | 1.5% |
Final thoughts:
Buying property in Spain is much easier if you prepare the practical side in advance. The taxes themselves are straightforward, but relying only on paper documents and in-person appointments can slow down the process.
Properties on the Costa del Sol are not only preferred because of the weather, but also because of the lower ITP tax on second-hand homes, which remains at 7%.
One thing that can make a real difference is having a digital certificate (firma digital).
With this, you can:
– check your tax status at any time;
– receive official notifications instantly;
– avoid multiple visits to offices.
In practice, this saves a lot of time, especially within the 30-day tax payment window after completion. Rather than dealing with paperwork and queues, most steps can be completed online or via your lawyer.
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