Property transfer fees
worldwide in 2026

Transfer taxes in France have seen a significant increase since April 1, 2025. The 2025 Finance Law authorized departments to temporarily raise (until March 31, 2028) the departmental share of transfer taxes by an additional 0.5 percentage points. In practice, almost all departments voted for this maximum increase, bringing the overall rate to approximately 6.31% in most cases.

The total acquisition costs for an existing property in France—transfer taxes, notary fees, and disbursements—range from 7% to 9% of the sale price, according to industry sources. First-time buyers purchasing their primary residence are exempt from the 0.5 percentage point increase. For new properties subject to VAT, a reduced rate applies, with transfer taxes capped at approximately 0.715%.

Spanish property taxation is highly decentralized—each autonomous community sets its own ITP (Impuesto sobre Transmisiones Patrimoniales) rate, applicable to older properties sold by individuals. The differences are significant: the Community of Madrid and the Basque Country apply some of the most competitive rates in the country, while Catalonia has implemented a progressive tax scale since 2025 that can exceed 15% for luxury properties.

In the Valencian Community (Costa Blanca), the standard rate increased to 9% for properties up to €1 million and 11% for those exceeding that amount, effective June 2026. Catalonia applies a progressive rate to properties over €600,000. New properties purchased from a developer are subject to VAT (10% or 21% depending on the type of property) instead of ITP (Property Transfer Tax). It is advisable to consult a tax lawyer for each specific acquisition.

Portugal applies a transfer tax (IMT) on a progressive scale ranging from 0% to 8% for primary residences, in addition to a stamp duty (Imposto do Selo) of 0.8% of the sale price. Non-residents may be subject to a flat IMT rate of 7.5%. These taxes must be paid before the signing of the deed and are generally not financed by bank loans.

The Portuguese golden visa for real estate investment was suspended in 2024 — non-residents who wished to obtain resident status through property purchase must now turn to other schemes. Nevertheless, Portugal remains an attractive destination for high-end French-speaking buyers, with a dynamic real estate market, particularly in Lisbon, Porto, and the Algarve.

Dubai boasts one of the world's most favorable real estate tax regimes. The Dubai Land Department (DLD) levies a transfer fee of 4% of the sale price—covering all transfer costs associated with a purchase. There is no annual property tax, no tax on rental income, and no tax on capital gains from real estate in Dubai. This highly advantageous tax system, combined with the market's spectacular growth (up 200% in five years according to the Knight Frank Wealth Report 2026), explains Dubai's increasing appeal to international investors.

In Singapore, the situation is radically different. The Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty (ABSD) for foreign buyers has been 60% since 2023 — a deliberately dissuasive measure to cool foreign demand in the city-state's residential market.

The UK applies a Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) with progressive rates based on property value. Additional rates apply to buyers of second homes or investment properties. Non-resident buyers are subject to a further 2% surcharge. For luxury properties valued at over £1.5 million, the marginal rate reaches 12%, plus surcharges for non-residents and second homes. A specific annual tax (ATED) also applies to properties held through corporate structures (corporate structures) valued at over £500,000.

Germany applies a property transfer tax (Grunderwerbsteuer) with rates ranging from 3.5% to 6.5%, depending on the state (Land) where the property is located. Bavaria and Saxony apply the lowest rate (3.5%), while Brandenburg, North Rhine-Westphalia, and other states apply the maximum rate of 6.5%. The Grundsteuer (annual property tax), which was reformed in 2025, varies considerably from one municipality to another and can represent a significant annual expense.