Buying property
We accompany you from the initial review of the transaction through to completion: land registry and encumbrance checks, calculation of the taxes and costs involved, and coordination with the notary and the registry.
Area of expertise
Real estate investment
We guide you through the whole process of buying, holding and selling property in Spain, with legal and tax advice. It is particularly useful for foreign investors who are not familiar with local rules.
Tell us about your caseWhen we step in
Situations we usually handle
- You are buying a home or commercial premises in Spain and do not live here.
- You want to know what taxes you will pay on purchase, and which ones every year afterwards.
- You are selling a property and need to calculate the tax on the gain.
- You have properties let out and want to put their taxation in order.
- You are buying through a company and are unsure whether it beats buying as an individual.
- You have inherited, or are going to gift, a property located in Spain.
- You need an NIE, a bank account or fiscal representation in order to proceed.
What we do
Specific services
Selling property
We calculate the tax on the capital gain, the withholding that applies where the seller is not resident and the municipal land value tax, and we prepare the returns and supporting documents.
Holding and letting
Declaration of rental income, deductible expenses depending on whether you are resident or not, and deemed income where the property is at your disposal.
Structuring the investment
We analyse whether to buy as an individual or through a company, taking into account the size of the investment, the intended holding period and your personal and tax circumstances.
Inheritance and gifts of property
Taxation on the transfer of property located in Spain, including the applicable regional rules and the particularities where the deceased or the heir is not resident here.
Preliminary formalities for non-residents
Obtaining an NIE, fiscal representation before the Spanish tax authorities and coordination with the other parties to the transaction.
How we work
The process, step by step
Analysis
We study the transaction, your tax residence and the property documentation.
Strategy
We quantify taxes and costs, and compare the structuring alternatives.
Execution
We coordinate formalities, returns and completion with the notary and registry.
Follow-up
We handle the annual obligations for as long as you hold the property.
Who we work with
Client profile
Foreign investors buying a home or investment property on the Costa Blanca who need to understand Spanish rules before signing.
Resident individuals buying, selling or inheriting property who want to anticipate the tax bill.
Companies and family estates with several properties that need their taxation put in order.
Frequently asked
What we get asked most
What taxes do I pay when buying a home in Spain?
Buying a home in Spain is taxed differently depending on whether the property is a new build or a resale, and the rate also varies with the region. Notary, land registry and conveyancing fees are added on top, plus mortgage costs if you take one. We give you the closed figure before you sign.
Do I need an NIE to buy a property in Spain?
Yes: you need an NIE, the foreigner identification number, in order to sign the deed and pay the taxes. It is a step to be taken before the purchase rather than on completion day, so it is worth starting early, along with opening a Spanish bank account. We handle it for you.
I do not live in Spain. Do I have to file anything each year even if I do not let the property?
Yes. A non-resident who owns property in Spain files an annual return even when the home sits empty or is only for personal use, because the law attributes a deemed income to having it available. It is the obligation that causes most trouble later on, precisely because so few people know about it.
What taxes does a non-resident pay when selling a property in Spain?
Selling is taxed on the capital gain, that is, on the difference between the sale price and the acquisition cost including expenses. Where the seller is not resident in Spain, the buyer withholds part of the price on account of that tax, and the municipal land value tax also falls due.
I live abroad and let out a flat in Spain. How is the rent taxed?
Rent from a property located in Spain is taxed in Spain, wherever you happen to live. If you are resident in the European Union or the European Economic Area you may deduct the expenses related to the letting; from outside it, tax is charged on the gross income. Returns are filed periodically through the year.
Is it worth buying through a company?
There is no general answer: it depends on how many properties you will hold, the use you make of them, the intended holding period and your personal and family circumstances. Buying through a company adds running costs and accounting obligations that only pay off in certain cases. We work the figures through with you first.
I am inheriting a property in Spain and do not live here. Where is the tax paid?
Inheriting a property located in Spain is taxed in Spain, even where neither the heir nor the deceased lived here. Regional rules can apply to non-residents as well, and since each region sets its own reliefs, the final bill varies considerably depending on where the property is.
Does buying a house in Spain make me a Spanish tax resident?
Owning a home in Spain does not in itself make you a Spanish tax resident. Residence depends on how long you spend here and on where the centre of your life and economic interests lies, not on owning property. Nor does the purchase in itself grant you a residence permit.
Let’s talk about your next step.
Tell us briefly about your situation and we will get in touch to see how we can help.
First contact
A direct answer, no strings attached
We handle every enquiry personally to give you a sense of what the matter involves.
Tell us about your case