Buying a property represents one of the most significant financial transactions in life, yet notary fees often cause confusion and concern for both buyers and sellers.
Many people encounter unpleasant surprises at the moment of signing, discovering additional costs they hadn’t accounted for in their initial budget. That lack of clear information regarding notary expenses can result in poorly planned financial decisions.
This guide complements our previous definitive guide to buying property in Spain and provides you with detailed information on all the expenses involved, helping you plan your budget accurately.
Key points
- Realistic budget: Total expenses (notary, registry, and taxes) usually represent between 10% and 12% of the purchase price in Catalonia.
- Main tax: The Property Transfer Tax (ITP) for resale homes is the most significant expense, applied progressively in Catalonia.
- Buyer responsibility: The vast majority of expenses (notary, registry, taxes) are borne by the buyer, except for the municipal capital gains tax.
- Planning: Knowing these costs beforehand is fundamental to determine how much capital you need, beyond the mortgage down payment.
What are notary fees in a property sale?
Definition and legal framework
When we talk about notary fees in a property sale, we include all professional fees and taxes related to the legal formalization of the property transfer. These costs are unavoidable to ensure the legal security of the transaction and are supervised by the General Council of Notaries.
Main components
- Notary fees: Payment for the notary’s professional services, including drafting the public deed and verifying legality.
- Applicable taxes: This is the largest outlay. It includes the Property Transfer Tax (ITP) for resale homes or VAT (IVA) for new build homes.
- Registry fees: Costs associated with registering the new property in your name at the Land Registry.
Detailed breakdown of notary expenses
Notary fees
Base calculation: Notary fees are established by official tariffs regulated by the State. They vary depending on the property value and the number of pages in the deed. For a property valued at €300,000, notary fees usually range between €800 and €1,000.
Services included:
- Drafting the public deed of sale
- Requesting updated registry information
- Impartial legal advice during the signing
- Electronic filing of the copy to the Land Registry
Transaction taxes
This is the largest expense, and its management depends on the autonomous community. You can check current rates at the Catalan Tax Agency.
- Resale property (ITP): In Catalonia, the general Property Transfer Tax is progressive, depending on the purchase price:
- Up to €600,000 → 10%
- €600,000 – €900,000 → 11%
- €900,000 – €1,500,000 → 12%
- Over €1,500,000 → 13%
- Reduced rates (5%) apply to young buyers under 35 years old, large families, single-parent families, victims of gender-based violence, or people with a disability degree equal to or greater than 65%, provided the taxable income does not exceed €36,000 annually. These measures aim to facilitate access to primary housing for a greater number of young people and vulnerable groups, offering significant savings compared to the general progressive rate.
- New build property (VAT + AJD): In this case, a 10% VAT applies, plus the Stamp Duty (AJD), which in Catalonia is 1.5%. Total: 11.5% of the purchase price.
Land registry fees
These are the fees for registering the property sale. They are also regulated by tariffs and depend on the property price. They typically range between €400 and €700.
Other additional expenses
- Administrative agency: If you take out a mortgage, the bank will require an agency to process taxes and registration. The cost is usually €300–€500.
- Appraisal: Required if you apply for a mortgage, according to Bank of Spain regulations. The approximate cost is €300 – €500.
Who pays what? Buyer and seller responsibilities
Buyer expenses
Law and common practice in Catalonia establish that the buyer assumes most of the expenses:
- Taxes: ITP (resale) or VAT + AJD (new build).
- Notary: Fees for granting the deed.
- Land Registry: Registration in the buyer’s name.
- Administrative agency: Processing of deeds and taxes.
Seller expenses
- Municipal capital gains tax: The Tax on the Increase in Value of Urban Land is the exclusive responsibility of the seller.
- Cancellation of charges: If there is a previous mortgage, the notary and registry fees to cancel it are paid by the seller.
- Energy certificate and occupancy certificate: The seller also assumes the cost of obtaining these mandatory documents.
Possible negotiations
Although the Civil Code establishes a different distribution of notary expenses (original deed for the seller, copies for the buyer), in standard practice in Catalonia it is agreed that all purchase expenses are borne by the buyer, except for the municipal capital gains tax. This must be clearly reflected in the deposit contract.
Strategies to optimize expenses
Early financial planning
Calculating notary expenses from the start avoids surprises. As a general rule, you should have saved an additional 12% of the apartment’s value on top of the purchase price to cover these costs, in addition to the 20% down payment that banks typically do not finance.
Leveraging tax bonuses
In Catalonia, it is essential to check if you meet the requirements for the reduced 5% ITP. Currently, this applies to young buyers under 35 years old with taxable income below €36,000 annually, large families, single-parent families, victims of gender-based violence, and people with a disability degree equal to or greater than 65%.
Comparing services
If you buy in cash (without a mortgage), you have full freedom to choose the notary and dispense with the bank’s administrative agency, processing the taxes and registration yourself, which can save you around €400–€500.
Practical cases: Real examples in Barcelona
Case 1: Purchase of resale property (€300,000)
Profile: Couple buying their primary residence in Barcelona. No bonuses apply.
Estimated breakdown:
- ITP (10%): €30,000
- Notary: €900
- Registry: €500
- Gestoría: €400
- Total expenses: €31,800 (approx. 10.6% of the price).
Case 2: Purchase with youth bonus (€200,000)
Profile: 30-year-old with an annual income of €28,000.
Estimated breakdown:
- Reduced ITP (5%): €10,000.
- Notary: €750
- Registry: €400
- Gestoría: €350
- Total expenses: €11,500 (5.75% of the price).
The ITP calculations shown are approximate. Since 2025, this tax is no longer applied as a fixed 10% rate but through a progressive scale (10%, 11%, 12%, and 13% depending on the property price).
AUTANA properties: Your partner in the process
At AUTANA properties, we know that the financial and legal side generates the most stress. That’s why our comprehensive service includes:
- Detailed cost calculation: Before you make an offer, we prepare a precise breakdown of all expenses and taxes so you know exactly how much you need. In this calculation, we include the Property Transfer Tax (ITP) according to the progressive scale currently in force in Catalonia (10%, 11%, 12%, and 13% depending on the property price), as well as any applicable tax reductions.
- Tax advice: We verify whether you qualify for ITP reductions to lower your tax burden.
- Notary coordination: We handle sending all documentation to the notary and review the draft deed to ensure everything is correct before signing.
Our goal is for you to arrive at the signing day with complete peace of mind and financial security.
Frequently asked questions and final details
What additional costs should I consider apart from notary fees?
Beyond the obvious notary, registry, and tax expenses, you should have liquidity for the mortgage appraisal (mandatory if you request financing, approx. €300–€500) and any potential bank opening fees.
It is also important to consider linked insurance (home and life) and the administrative cost of registering or changing the ownership of utilities (water, electricity, and gas).
What factors influence the final notary cost?
The final amount of the notary bill is not fixed. It depends mainly on the purchase price (higher value means higher tariffs), and the length of the deed (number of pages). The number of copies requested and the complexity of the operation also play a role, for example if guarantors are involved or there are dissolutions of joint ownership.
How are expenses distributed (unless agreed otherwise)?
It is fundamental to understand the difference between what the law says and what is habitually practiced:
- According to the Civil Code: The expenses for granting the deed (the original) are for the seller’s account, and the first and subsequent copies are for the buyer.
- Agreement to the contrary (Standard practice in Catalonia): In the vast majority of sales, it is explicitly agreed in the deposit contract that the buyer assumes all notary, registry, administrative, and tax expenses derived from the purchase. The seller assumes only the municipal capital gains tax and the costs of cancelling their own charges (previous mortgage).
