Costs and taxes when buying a property

Overview

Buying property in Spain involves more than the purchase price itself. Notary fees, registry fees and legal costs typically add several percent on top of the price, and property transfer tax adds more still — together often 10-15% in total. This guide focuses on the non-tax fees and overall budgeting; for the exact tax rates and rules, see our detailed guide to taxes when buying a property.

Requirements

• Applies to any property purchase in Spain, new-build or resale
• New-build and resale properties are taxed differently (VAT vs Transfer Tax) — see our tax guide for the specifics

Step-by-step process

• Confirm whether the property is new-build or resale, since this determines which tax regime applies — covered in full in our tax guide
• Budget for notary fees, Land Registry fees and gestoría costs alongside the applicable tax
• Get a full cost breakdown from your notary or gestor before signing, covering both taxes and fees together
• Pay the applicable tax as part of completing the purchase — the Land Registry will not finalise registration until it's paid

Required documents

• Notarised deed of sale (escritura)
• NIE
• Proof of payment of the applicable tax (ITP or AJD/IVA)

Common mistakes

• Budgeting only for the purchase price and being caught out by the additional 10-15% in taxes and fees
• Assuming the same tax rate applies everywhere in Spain — ITP rates are set by each Comunidad Autónoma and vary noticeably
• Missing a regional discount you may be entitled to (for example, some regions reduce ITP for buyers under a certain age)

Practical tips

• Ask your notary or gestor for a full cost breakdown before signing, not just the tax rate
• Notary fees are regulated and broadly similar between notaries, so shopping around rarely saves much — but comparing gestoría and legal fees can

How Tuchati can help

A Tuchati One Request can help you get a realistic total-cost estimate for your specific region and property type before you commit to an offer.