We all have to suffer the payment of taxes on already bloated property prices. Despite the downturn in the economy forcing a reduction in prices especially in the coastal areas of Spain, many people, especially the young, find it difficult to get on the property ladder in Spain.
This is a result of not just low incomes but also the difficulty in putting together a deposit given the reduced mortgages that are now being offered by the banks here. However, there are some initiatives currently being rolled out in Spain to attempt to make home buying by first time buyers “” as well as other identified groups “” somewhat easier.
This is principally being carried-out by introducing tax-breaks or reductions in the applicable property sales tax rate to these identifiable groups. The central government has devolved the property sales tax rate to the autonomous communities or regional governments in Spain, and all have taken on that responsibility and established the local rate of tax for such operations. Some have also opted to introduce income tax breaks for property investments of various types and by various identified groups in society.
In the Alicante area of Spain, property sales tax rates are set by the Valencia regional parliament and the standard rate is set at 7% in Article 16 Ley 11/2000. This rate is however subject to a number of exceptions as follows:
Ley 13/1997 provides that the acquisition of a property by a person suffering a physical or sensory disability of greater than 65% or a mental disability greater than 33% shall attract a rate of tax of 4% for that part of the property which they acquire.
Article 13 of Ley 13/1997 also provides that where the property being purchased is a property subsidised by the government then it is subject to a tax rate of 4% if the property is going to constitute the main home of the purchaser.
The same reduced rate of tax is applicable to property purchases effected by families considered as ‘large’ “” as per Article 13 as modified by Article 32 of Ley 14/2007. In addition the following criteria must be fulfilled:
– the property is purchased within 2 years of the family achieving the status of being ‘large’
– the property formerly used as a family home must be sold within the same period of time
– the new property must be at least 10% larger in area than the previous home
the total taxable income of the family unit may not exceed “‘44,074
Each of these reduction can represent a significant saving and it is worth confirming with the local office of Hacienda eligibility.