Buying property in Marbella involves one main acquisition tax — but which tax and how much depends entirely on whether you buy resale or new build. Here is the complete breakdown for Andalusia.
Quick Answer: Marbella Property Taxes
Resale: 7% ITP flat.
New build: 10% IVA + 1.2% AJD = 11.2%.
Plus fixed costs: notary €600–1,200, Land Registry €400–800, legal ~1%+VAT.
Total: ~10% (resale) or ~13% (new build) above purchase price.
When you buy a resale property in Marbella, you pay Impuesto de Transmisiones Patrimoniales (ITP), or Property Transfer Tax. In Andalusia, this is a flat rate of 7%.
Rate: 7% flat rate in Andalusia.
Who pays: The buyer.
Deadline: Within 30 days of signing the public deed.
Who files: Your lawyer will prepare and submit the tax form (Modelo 600).
Paid to: Junta de Andalucía (Andalusian regional government).
ITP Calculation Examples
Purchase Price
7% ITP
€300,000
€21,000
€500,000
€35,000
€750,000
€52,500
€1,000,000
€70,000
€2,000,000
€140,000
Important note: Since 2022, ITP is calculated on the higher of the purchase price or the Cadastre's 'Valor de Referencia' (reference value). Your lawyer will check this value for you.
New Build: 10% VAT + 1.2% Stamp Duty = 11.2%
When you buy a brand new property directly from a developer in Marbella, you pay VAT (IVA) and Stamp Duty (AJD) instead of ITP.
IVA (VAT): 10% of the purchase price.
AJD (Stamp Duty): 1.2% of the purchase price in Andalusia.
Total: 11.2% (10% IVA + 1.2% AJD).
New Build Tax Calculation Examples
Purchase Price
11.2% (IVA + AJD)
€300,000
€33,600
€500,000
€56,000
€750,000
€84,000
€1,000,000
€112,000
Note on AJD for mortgages: Since 2019, banks pay the Stamp Duty (AJD) on mortgage deeds, not the buyer.
Other Acquisition Costs Beyond Tax
Beyond the main acquisition taxes, there are several other costs involved in buying property in Marbella.
Notary Fees: Typically €600–1,200, depending on the property price and complexity.
Land Registry Fees: Usually €400–800, also dependent on property price.
Legal Fees: Generally around 1% of the purchase price plus VAT (21%). Essential for due diligence and managing the purchase process.
Currency Exchange: For non-euro buyers, consider exchange rate fluctuations and transfer fees.
Annual Property Taxes After Purchase
Once you own a property in Marbella, you will be subject to annual taxes.
IBI (Impuesto sobre Bienes Inmuebles): This is the local council tax, similar to UK council tax or US property tax. It's based on the 'Valor Catastral' (cadastral value) of the property. For a €500k property, expect to pay approximately €800–1,500 per year.
IRNR (Impuesto sobre la Renta de No Residentes): Non-resident income tax. If you are not a tax resident in Spain, you pay this tax on imputed income, even if you don't rent out your property. The rate is generally 24% (or 19% for EU/EEA residents) on a percentage of the cadastral value. If you rent out your property, you pay IRNR on the rental income.
Note on Plusvalía: Remember, Plusvalía is a seller's tax, not a buyer's tax, and is paid to the local town hall upon sale.
Full Cost Calculation Examples
Here are two examples illustrating the total costs for both resale and new build properties at a €600,000 purchase price.
Example 1: €600,000 Resale Property
Purchase Price: €600,000
ITP (7%): €42,000
Notary Fees: ~€900
Land Registry Fees: ~€600
Legal Fees (~1%+VAT): ~€7,260
Total Estimated Cost: ~€650,760
Total Percentage Above Price: ~8.5%
Example 2: €600,000 New Build Property
Purchase Price: €600,000
IVA (10%): €60,000
AJD (1.2%): €7,200
Notary Fees: ~€900
Land Registry Fees: ~€600
Legal Fees (~1%+VAT): ~€7,260
Total Estimated Cost: ~€675,960
Total Percentage Above Price: ~12.7%
Frequently Asked Questions
The ITP (Impuesto de Transmisiones Patrimoniales) rate for resale properties in Andalusia is a flat 7% of the purchase price, regardless of the property value.
New build properties are subject to 10% VAT (IVA) plus 1.2% Stamp Duty (AJD), totaling 11.2%. ITP is only paid on resale properties.
'Valor de Referencia' (reference value) is a new value set by the Cadastre for all properties, used as the minimum taxable base for ITP and AJD. If the purchase price is lower than the Valor de Referencia, taxes will be calculated on the higher reference value.
Property acquisition taxes (ITP or VAT+AJD) are typically paid within 30 days of signing the public deed of sale at the notary. Your lawyer will handle the calculation and submission.
Since 2019, Spanish banks are legally obliged to pay the Stamp Duty (AJD) associated with mortgage deeds, not the buyer.
Andalusia offers reduced ITP rates for certain groups, including first-time buyers under 35, large families, or those buying properties for primary residence below a certain value. Specific conditions apply and should be verified with a lawyer.
Plusvalía (Impuesto sobre el Incremento de Valor de los Terrenos de Naturaleza Urbana) is a municipal tax on the increase in value of urban land. It is legally paid by the seller, not the buyer.
Now you know the taxes — know what properties actually cost
Spain doesn't publish individual sale prices. Our report contains transaction data from official notary and Land Registry records for all 28 Marbella sub-areas — including the gap between asking prices and what buyers actually pay in each district.
The information on this page is provided for general guidance only and is updated periodically. Tax rates and legal requirements change — always verify with a qualified Spanish lawyer before proceeding.
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