---
title: "Costs of selling a flat or house in the Maresme: taxes and what you take home"
description: "Municipal capital gains tax, income tax, notary, mortgage and agency fees: what the seller of a house in the Maresme pays and how to work out the net figure."
url: https://maresmerealtors.com/en/costs-selling-house-maresme/
date: 2026-11-05
modified: 2026-11-05
author: "Adrian Garcia"
image: https://maresmerealtors.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/gastos-vender-piso-maresme.jpg
categories: ["Taxation"]
type: post
lang: en
---

# Costs of selling a flat or house in the Maresme: taxes and what you take home

Selling a house in the Maresme involves two main items: **taxes** (municipal capital gains tax and income tax on the gain) and the **costs of the transaction** (certificates, mortgage cancellation, the notary’s fee for the original deed and the agency’s fees). When a sale makes a profit, taxes are usually the largest part. The costs of selling a flat, on the other hand, are more predictable and can be worked out from day one.

What really matters is another figure: how much you will take home once everything has been paid. We explain each item, who pays it, when it is paid and how to estimate it before putting your house on the market.

Índice de contenidos

[Toggle](#)

- [Summary: what you pay when you sell your house](https://maresmerealtors.com/en/costs-selling-house-maresme/#Summary_what_you_pay_when_you_sell_your_house)
- [Municipal capital gains tax: the town hall’s tax](https://maresmerealtors.com/en/costs-selling-house-maresme/#Municipal_capital_gains_tax_the_town_halls_tax)
- [Income tax: what you pay the Tax Agency on the gain](https://maresmerealtors.com/en/costs-selling-house-maresme/#Income_tax_what_you_pay_the_Tax_Agency_on_the_gain)
  - [Before you sell, find out your net figure](https://maresmerealtors.com/en/costs-selling-house-maresme/#Before_you_sell_find_out_your_net_figure)
- [When you do not pay income tax on selling your house](https://maresmerealtors.com/en/costs-selling-house-maresme/#When_you_do_not_pay_income_tax_on_selling_your_house)
- [Costs of selling a flat: certificates and paperwork](https://maresmerealtors.com/en/costs-selling-house-maresme/#Costs_of_selling_a_flat_certificates_and_paperwork)
- [The outstanding mortgage: cancellation and commissions](https://maresmerealtors.com/en/costs-selling-house-maresme/#The_outstanding_mortgage_cancellation_and_commissions)
- [Notary, Land Registry and transfer tax: which part is yours](https://maresmerealtors.com/en/costs-selling-house-maresme/#Notary_Land_Registry_and_transfer_tax_which_part_is_yours)
- [Agency fees: what they include](https://maresmerealtors.com/en/costs-selling-house-maresme/#Agency_fees_what_they_include)
- [If you are selling as a non-resident](https://maresmerealtors.com/en/costs-selling-house-maresme/#If_you_are_selling_as_a_non-resident)
- [How to work out what you take home](https://maresmerealtors.com/en/costs-selling-house-maresme/#How_to_work_out_what_you_take_home)
- [We help you sell with clear numbers](https://maresmerealtors.com/en/costs-selling-house-maresme/#We_help_you_sell_with_clear_numbers)
- [How much would you take home if you sold today?](https://maresmerealtors.com/en/costs-selling-house-maresme/#How_much_would_you_take_home_if_you_sold_today)
- [Frequently asked questions about the costs of selling a house](https://maresmerealtors.com/en/costs-selling-house-maresme/#Frequently_asked_questions_about_the_costs_of_selling_a_house)

## Summary: what you pay when you sell your house

This table summarises the items the seller covers in a typical transaction in Catalonia. The approximate figures come from the [Fotocasa guide to the taxes and costs of selling a house](https://www.fotocasa.es/fotocasa-life/vender-piso/impuestos-y-gastos-que-deberas-pagar-al-vender-tu-casa/). Taxes always depend on your own situation.

| Item | Who pays | Approximate amount | When |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **Municipal capital gains tax (IIVTNU)** | Seller | Depends on the land, the years owned and the town | 30 working days after the sale |
| **Income tax (IRPF) on the capital gain** | Seller | 19% to 30% of the gain | Following tax return |
| **Energy performance certificate** | Seller | €60 to €130 | Before listing |
| **Habitability certificate** | Seller | Varies with the technician | Before signing |
| **Mortgage cancellation** | Seller | €400 to €1,000 plus commission | At signing |
| **Notary (original deed)** | Seller | Official notary scale | At signing |
| **Agency fees** | As per contract | 3% to 7% according to Fotocasa | At signing |
| **IBI property tax and community charges for the year** | Seller (can be apportioned) | The property’s own bills | As agreed |

## Municipal capital gains tax: the town hall’s tax

Municipal capital gains tax (*plusvalía municipal*) is charged on the increase in the value of urban land during the years you have owned it. The seller pays it and the town hall where the property is located collects it, setting its own coefficients and tax rate, up to a maximum of 30%.

Since [Royal Decree-Law 26/2021](https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2021-18276), you can choose between two methods: the objective method, based on the cadastral value of the land and the years of ownership, or the actual method, based on the difference between the purchase price and the sale price. The cheaper one applies and, if there is no gain, nothing is payable. For a sale, the deadline to file it is 30 working days from signing.

You can make an estimate with our town-by-town calculators, for example the [Mataró capital gains tax calculator](https://maresmerealtors.com/en/municipal-capital-gains-tax-calculator/mataro/), or the ones for [Premià de Mar](https://maresmerealtors.com/en/municipal-capital-gains-tax-calculator/premia-de-mar/) and [Tiana](https://maresmerealtors.com/en/municipal-capital-gains-tax-calculator/tiana/). You will find the other towns in the [municipal capital gains tax calculator](https://maresmerealtors.com/en/municipal-capital-gains-tax-calculator/).

![Calculator to estimate municipal capital gains tax when selling a house in the Maresme](https://maresmerealtors.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/imagen-calculadora-plusvalia.jpg)

## Income tax: what you pay the Tax Agency on the gain

If you sell for more than the property cost you, the difference is a capital gain taxed in the savings base of income tax (IRPF). To work it out, you subtract the acquisition value from the sale price. That value includes the purchase price, the costs and taxes of that purchase and any improvements you have made. The costs of the sale, such as municipal capital gains tax or the agency’s fees, are also subtracted from the sale price.

The gain is taxed in bands, according to the [Spanish Tax Agency](https://sede.agenciatributaria.gob.es/Sede/ayuda/manuales-videos-folletos/manuales-practicos/irpf-2025/c15-calculo-impuesto-determinacion-cuotas-integras/gravamen-aplicable-contribuyentes-irpf-residentes-extranjero/gravamen-base-liquidable-ahorro.html):

| Gain band | Applicable rate |
| --- | --- |
| **Up to €6,000** | 19% |
| **€6,000 to €50,000** | 21% |
| **€50,000 to €200,000** | 23% |
| **€200,000 to €300,000** | 27% |
| **More than €300,000** | 30% |

An example to understand the bands: with a gain of €100,000, the first €6,000 are taxed at 19% (€1,140), the next €44,000 at 21% (€9,240) and the last €50,000 at 23% (€11,500). In total, €21,880. This is an illustrative calculation. Your figure will depend on your personal situation and your deductible costs.

### Before you sell, find out your net figure

We will prepare a valuation of your home and an estimate of what you will take home after taxes and costs, so you can decide with real numbers.

[**I want my valuation and estimate →**](https://maresmerealtors.com/en/sell-property-maresme/#valoracion)

## When you do not pay income tax on selling your house

In some situations the gain is exempt. According to the [Spanish Tax Agency](https://sede.agenciatributaria.gob.es/Sede/ayuda/manuales-videos-folletos/manuales-practicos/irpf-2025/c02-irpf-cuestiones-generales/sujecion-irpf-aspectos-materiales/delimitacion-negativa-hecho-imponible-rentas-sujetas/otras-rentas-exentas/exenciones-ganancias-patrimoniales.html), there are three main ones:

- **Reinvestment in a main residence.** If you sell your main residence and reinvest the amount in another main residence within two years, the reinvested part of the gain is exempt. You must have lived in it for at least three years.
- **People aged 65 or over.** The sale of a main residence by a person aged 65 or over is exempt, even without reinvesting.
- **Handing over the property to settle the debt (*dación en pago*).** Handing over your main residence to cancel a mortgage debt is also exempt.

If you are in one of these situations, it is worth confirming it with your adviser before signing the deposit contract (*contrato de arras*), because the requirements are strict.

## Costs of selling a flat: certificates and paperwork

Besides taxes, there are a number of administrative costs that fall to the seller. They are small compared with taxes, but it is worth allowing for them:

- **Energy performance certificate.** It is mandatory from the moment you list the property. Fotocasa puts it at between €60 and €130, depending on the floor area and the technician.
- **Habitability certificate (*cédula de habitabilidad*).** In Catalonia it must be handed to the buyer. If it has expired, it must be renewed, at a cost that varies with the technician who handles it.
- **Community of owners certificate.** It proves you are up to date with your charges. Some property managers charge for it.
- **Building technical inspection report,** if the building is required to undergo one.

You will find the full list, with what each notary asks for, in our guide to the documents needed to sell a house in Catalonia.

## The outstanding mortgage: cancellation and commissions

If the property has a mortgage, it is normally cancelled at the signing itself with the money paid by the buyer. On top of the notary, registry and administrative costs of the cancellation, which Fotocasa estimates at between €400 and €1,000, there may be an early repayment commission.

The [Mortgage Credit Act 5/2019](https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2019-3814) caps that commission on loans signed since it came into force in June 2019. On variable-rate mortgages, the maximum is 0.25% of the capital repaid during the first three years or 0.15% during the first five, depending on what was agreed. On fixed-rate mortgages, up to 2% during the first ten years and 1.5% thereafter. Check your deed or ask your bank for the outstanding balance certificate in good time.

## Notary, Land Registry and transfer tax: which part is yours

[Article 1455 of the Spanish Civil Code](https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1889-4763#a1455) establishes that, unless otherwise agreed, the seller pays for the original deed and the buyer for the first copy and subsequent costs. In practice, the buyer also covers registration at the Land Registry and the Property Transfer Tax (ITP).

That split can be agreed differently in the deposit contract. Our advice is to put it in writing from the outset to avoid arguments on the day of signing. If you want to see at what point each document is signed, we set it out in the [process of selling a home step by step](https://maresmerealtors.com/en/selling-house-maresme-step-by-step/).

## Agency fees: what they include

Fees depend on the service and are agreed in the listing agreement (*hoja de encargo*). As a reference, Fotocasa puts the usual range at between 3% and 7% of the sale price. What matters is not only the percentage but what it includes: valuation, professional photography and video, promotion, buyer screening, negotiation and support all the way to the notary.

Good sales work usually protects the price better than lower fees do. If you want to see what to ask before signing with an agency, we explain it in [how to choose an estate agent to sell your house](https://maresmerealtors.com/en/estate-agent-to-sell-house/).

![Meeting to work out the costs of selling a flat in the Maresme](https://maresmerealtors.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/despacho-lujo-maresme.jpg)

## If you are selling as a non-resident

If you are not tax resident in Spain, the buyer must withhold 3% of the price and pay it to the Tax Agency as an advance on your tax, as [La Vanguardia](https://www.lavanguardia.com/dinero/bolsillo/20260826/11606350/vender-vivienda-todos-impuestos-debes-pagar-como-puedes-reducir-factura-fiscal-pca.html) points out. You then declare the gain under Non-Resident Income Tax and, if the amount withheld exceeds the tax due, you can claim a refund.

This is a common situation in the Maresme, where many owners are foreign or live elsewhere for part of the year. If this applies to you, it is worth planning the deadlines with a tax adviser from the start.

## How to work out what you take home

To reach your net figure, we suggest this order:

- **Start from a realistic sale price,** not the one you would like. Our guide to the sale price of a home can help.
- **Subtract the outstanding mortgage** and its cancellation costs.
- **Subtract the municipal capital gains tax** estimated with your town’s calculator.
- **Work out the income tax** on the gain, after deducting the allowable costs.
- **Subtract the certificates and the agreed fees.**

With these sums done before going to market, you will know exactly what margin you have in the negotiation and can decide with peace of mind.

## We help you sell with clear numbers

With our [service for selling your home in the Maresme](https://maresmerealtors.com/en/sell-property-maresme/), we give you the valuation together with a forecast of taxes and costs, and we coordinate with your administrator or adviser so there are no surprises at the notary. You can also see how we present the [homes for sale in the Maresme](https://maresmerealtors.com/en/homes-for-sale/maresme/) that we market.

## How much would you take home if you sold today?

We value your home using real sales and give you an estimate of taxes and costs, so you know your net figure. With no obligation.

[**Calculate my sale →**](https://maresmerealtors.com/en/sell-property-maresme/#valoracion)

[**Chat on WhatsApp →**](https://wa.me/34615019717)

## Frequently asked questions about the costs of selling a house

The questions owners in the Maresme ask us most often about taxes and costs.

**What taxes does the seller of a home pay?** The seller pays municipal capital gains tax to the town hall and is taxed under income tax (IRPF) on any capital gain. Non-residents are taxed under Non-Resident Income Tax, and the buyer withholds 3% of the price.

**Who pays the notary in a property sale?** Under article 1455 of the Spanish Civil Code, unless otherwise agreed, the seller pays for the original deed and the buyer for the first copy and subsequent costs, such as registration.

**Do I pay municipal capital gains tax if I sell at a loss?** No. Since Royal Decree-Law 26/2021, if there is no increase in value between the purchase and the sale, no municipal capital gains tax is payable. You must prove it with the deeds.

**How much income tax do you pay on selling a house?** The gain is taxed in the savings base at rates from 19% to 30% in bands. It may be exempt if you reinvest in a main residence, if you are 65 or over and sell your main residence, or in the case of a dación en pago (handing over the property to settle a mortgage debt).

**Which costs of the sale can be deducted for income tax?** Costs inherent to the sale, such as municipal capital gains tax, agency fees or certificates, reduce the transfer value and therefore the gain on which you are taxed.