Sabela
Lawyer · Vigo, Spain
- 250 cases handled · 2 in this service
- 17+ years in practice
- Speaks: English, Spanish
- Law, Santiago de Compostela
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4.96(29 reviews)
Property Tax for Foreign Owners in Spain
The yearly Spanish property tax, IBI, is billed by the town hall to the owner of a property, resident or not. A lawyer explains how it is set, how to avoid missed bills and how to check an amount.
About Property Tax for Foreign Owners in Spain
The annual property tax in Spain is called IBI (Impuesto sobre Bienes Inmuebles). Foreign owners search for it as property tax in Spain, property tax for foreigners, yearly property tax, IBI tax or "council tax in Spain". It is a local tax billed by the town hall to the owner of a home, apartment, plot or commercial unit, whether the owner lives in Spain or abroad. Some older lists and lawyer pages call this service “Property Tax Service”.
Who pays and when
In general the person recorded as owner on the tax date owes the bill for that year, even if the property is sold during the year. The amount is based on the cadastral value (valor catastral) and the rate set by each town hall, which also sets the payment period. Some town halls bill a separate charge for rubbish collection alongside it.
How it usually works in Spain
The bill comes from the town hall or a collection agency acting for it. Many foreign owners never see it abroad, so direct debit from a Spanish bank account is common. Unpaid IBI collects surcharges and interest and can follow the property to a new owner, which is why buyers ask for recent receipts. Rates, thresholds and deadlines change every year, so a lawyer or tax adviser confirms the current ones.
Where this page ends and others begin
- IBI is not the Modelo 210 income tax: an empty home is covered by non-resident property tax, a let home by non-resident rental income tax.
- Checking IBI receipts is part of buying a property.
How a lawyer or tax adviser helps
An English-speaking registered lawyer checks the cadastral data and the bill, arranges payment and a contact address for notices, and, where the value looks wrong, prepares a request or an appeal. Owners abroad can also use a fiscal representative.
Questions and answers
Do non-residents pay IBI?
Yes. IBI follows the ownership of the property, not the residence of the owner.
How do I know how much I owe?
The town hall or its collection agency issues the bill. An adviser can find the cadastral reference and the latest bills if nothing arrives.
What happens if I miss a payment?
Surcharges and interest are added and the debt can be collected, including against the property.
Can the amount be challenged?
In some cases yes. The cadastral value or the assessment can be reviewed, and a lawyer explains the routes and time limits.
5 lawyers who provide Property Tax for Foreign Owners in Spain
Sorted by experience in this service. Write to any of them — the reply comes from the lawyer, without obligation.
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Raffaele
Lawyer · Barcelona, Spain
- 1,553 cases handled
- 15+ years in practice
- Speaks: English, Portuguese, Italian, Spanish
- Spanish Law; Italian Law, Universitat Pompeu Fabra - Università degli Studi di Milano
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4.90(38 reviews)
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María
Lawyer · Estepona, Spain
- 184 cases handled
- 8+ years in practice
- Speaks: Spanish, English
- Law, University Granada
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4.60(5 reviews)
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David
Accountant · Barcelona, Spain
- 103 cases handled
- 11+ years in practice
- Speaks: English, Spanish
- Economia, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona
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Aleix
Lawyer · Barcelona, Spain
- 30 cases handled
- 4+ years in practice
- Speaks: English, Spanish
- Business-Management, Universitat de Barcelona
Contact form · a chat with a lawyer
Talk to a lawyer about Property Tax for Foreign Owners
5 registered lawyers provide this service in Spain. Describe your situation in a short chat — what happened, where, and how to reach you. Your enquiry is reviewed and passed to a lawyer who handles exactly this kind of case, with no obligation.
We are not just a place to list a profile: we work with every lawyer individually. Each one is registered with a bar association, and their experience, languages and client reviews are shown openly on their card.
Enquiries are answered by lawyers of AdvocateAbroad. This site provides legal information, not legal advice.
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I am very grateful to the lawyer, who got me through the Greek tax system smoothly and successfully. She is a real asset to the company. She answered my emails quickly and explained everything in an easy-to-understand way. I would definitely use this service again.
— Sheila02 Jul 2025Property Tax for Foreign Owners -
The lawyer has been excellent, answering quickly and helping a lot.
— Neil27 Jun 2022 -
The lawyer was highly professional and explained my tax case with impressive attention to detail. He answers promptly and takes the initiative in finding and explaining solutions to any problems. I am very satisfied, and I strongly recommend him and this service. Thank you for everything you have done for me.
— David05 May 2022 -
The lawyer is always timely and informative about tax returns that are due, and replies promptly to any request for advice. He is courteous and helpful, and his English is perfect. I am happy to have him as my lawyer abroad for tax matters.
— David11 Jan 2022 -
A professional, thorough lawyer who offers advice beyond his remit.
— Peter03 Apr 2021 -
Working with him was a real pleasure, and he made everything very easy.
— Brian29 Mar 2021 -
The lawyer is very clear, precise, calm and professional. His advice has been welcome and he has answered my enquiries promptly, even at the weekend, in perfect English. So far, so good: the tax return for last year has been filed and the application to register as a tax resident is in progress.
— David08 Mar 2021 -
The lawyer is very professional, easy to approach with any questions and very quick to answer in a clear way. He offers great value for money for his expertise, and his English is perfect. I recommend his services 100%.
— Andy16 Jun 2022 -
I find the lawyer excellent in every attribute and skill. He is always clear and prompt when he writes to us and asks for the information needed to finish the work. We appreciate his guidance in helping us comply fully with Spanish law on the relevant matters.
— Michael11 Apr 2022 -
He has always been prompt, proactive and knowledgeable, and his service is very professional. I was very satisfied and would definitely recommend him to others.
— Patrick15 Mar 2021 -
The lawyer is very responsive and understood my case properly. He focuses more on the work than on money, explained things briefly and provided an appropriate solution. He is approachable, his English is perfect, and I am happy that his professionalism helped me solve my case.
— Senait14 Jul 2020 -
Super responsive and completely professional!
— Robert02 May 2022