Transfer tax in Spain — ITP vs. IVA explained for new-build buyers

If you are the first owner taking delivery directly from the developer, you pay IVA at 10% plus AJD at 1.2% in Andalucía, for a combined headline burden of 11.2%. ITP does not apply to first transfers from a developer acting in the course of business.

If the same unit has already been sold once, even briefly, the second sale is a resale and ITP at 7% applies instead. Bank repossessions and units transferred between related developer entities before retail sale typically fall under ITP. Confirm the legal characterisation with your lawyer before signing the reservation contract.

The valor de referencia is a cadastral figure published annually by the for each property, derived from notarial transaction data in the area. Since 2022, ITP is calculated on the higher of the deed price or the reference value.

If you agree a price of €1.2m but the reference value is €1.4m, ITP is calculated on €1.4m. The reference value rule does not apply to new-build IVA, which is always calculated on the agreed price. You can challenge a reference value after paying, but the burden of proof sits with the taxpayer and the process is slow.

AJD (Actos Jurídicos Documentados) is paid by the buyer on new-build purchases in Andalucía at 1.2% of the deed value. It is self-assessed on Form 600 and filed with the within 30 business days from the date of the notarial deed.

The Land Registry will not inscribe your title until AJD is paid and Form 600 stamped. In practice your gestor handles the filing as part of the closing package. AJD is not charged on resale ITP transactions, because the 7% ITP rate already covers the documentary tax element.

For a residential dwelling bought as a private individual for personal use, IVA is a final cost and cannot be reclaimed. This applies to almost all foreign buyers purchasing a second home or holiday villa on the Costa del Sol.

IVA recovery may be possible in narrow commercial scenarios, for example if you purchase through a Spanish company that will use the property for taxable business activity such as professional short-term rentals subject to IVA. The rules are technical and require professional structuring from day one. This is not legal or tax advice; consult a Spanish tax adviser before assuming any recovery is available.

Yes. Stage payments to a developer during construction attract IVA at 10% on each instalment, invoiced by the developer at the time of payment. AJD at 1.2% is then due on the final deed of sale once the property is delivered and registered.

If you assign your off-plan contract to a third party before completion, the tax treatment becomes more complex and depends on whether the assignment is characterised as a transfer of rights or a property transmission. Specific advice is essential before signing any assignment, as the tax bill on both sides can shift materially.

On purchase tax alone, yes. The headline gap is 4.2 percentage points: 11.2% combined IVA plus AJD versus 7% ITP. On a €1m purchase that is €42,000 of extra tax for the new-build buyer.

Whole-of-life economics can narrow or reverse the gap. New-builds carry a 10-year structural warranty, comply with current building regulations, and typically deliver better energy performance, which reduces running costs. Resales may need refurbishment, updated installations or community-imposed works. Compare total cost of ownership over your expected holding period, not just the tax line at completion.

Late filing of ITP or AJD triggers surcharges and interest under Spanish general tax law. Surcharges scale with delay, starting modestly for voluntary late filings before any Hacienda notification, and rising sharply if the tax authority issues a demand first.

More practically, the Land Registry will refuse to inscribe your title until the form is filed and paid. You technically own the property under the deed, but unregistered title creates problems for future sale, mortgage refinancing and inheritance. Your gestor should file within deadline as standard. If a delay looks likely, file and pay on a provisional basis rather than wait.

Rarely. Andalucía offers reduced ITP rates for defined categories such as large families, young buyers under age thresholds, and buyers with recognised disability, but these reliefs typically require habitual residence in Spain and apply only to primary residences under price caps well below mid-market Costa del Sol levels.

Foreign buyers purchasing a second home, holiday villa or investment property almost never qualify. If you are relocating to Spain as your main residence and the property falls within the price thresholds, ask your tax adviser to review eligibility before signing. The reliefs are not automatic and must be claimed on the Form 600 filing.