Plusvalía in Torrevieja: How to calculate it?

with 4 Comments

When selling a house, whether it is in Torrevieja or elsewhere, there are a number of taxes and expenses that the seller must take care of. Among them is the colloquially called the municipal surplus value, plusvalía in Spanish, also known as the Tax on the Increase in the Value of Land of Urban Nature (IIVTNU, because of its Spanish initials).

Put simply, the surplus value is a tax that is paid when there is a transfer of a property, since it assumes that real estate always goes up-market over time. Previously, there was no way to protest the payment of the tax, but fortunately, that has changed. It is a complex tax that has raised many questions and controversies, so if you’re thinking of selling your house in Torrevieja, you probably want to continue reading.

What is the surplus value?
How is the surplus value calculated in Torrevieja?
Who pays the surplus value tax in Torrevieja? When is it paid?
What happens when you have sold at a loss?

Magnifying glass over calculator. Calculate plusvalía in Torrevieja. Calculate surplus value tax in Torrevieja.

What is the surplus value?

As we have already mentioned, the surplus value taxes the increase in value of an urban land during the years that this has been the property of the seller. It is regulated in the Royal Legislative Decree 2/2004 of March 5, in articles 104 to 110, and in the Municipal Ordinances, since each municipality applies its own conditions for the tax, within what the law allows.

The tax is applied in situations of purchase, donation, inheritance, exchange, and usufruct, but it doesn’t apply to rustic properties, nor to certain situations that we will talk about later. In addition, the maximum time of possession of the property that is considered is 20 years.

Piles of coins with plants. Calculate plusvalía in Torrevieja. Calculate surplus value tax in Torrevieja.

How is the surplus value calculated in Torrevieja?

The first thing that must be ascertained to calculate the surplus value is the cadastral value of the land, which is a data that is found in the receipt of the IBI, or in the cadastre of the house. Make sure you look at it there, since the value of the land registry and the value of the property are not the same.

Once you have that number, you have to calculate the revaluation rate, which varies depending on the municipality in which you are. In Torrevieja, the following chart is used:

 

1 to 5 years 3,7%
6 to 10 years 3,5%
11 to 15 years 3,2%
16 to 20 years 3,0%

 

Depending on the number of years the property was owned, a percentage or another is used, and this is applied annually. That is, if you have had your home for 9 years, your revaluation rate would be:

9 x 3.5% = 31.5%.

It is important to bear in mind that the revaluation rate applies only up to 20 years, so even if you have been the owner of the property for 35 years, you will continue multiplying by 20.

Then the tax base is calculated, which is obtained by applying the revaluation rate to the cadastral value. Let’s imagine that the property value of this house you have had for 9 years is € 75,000. Then, your tax base would be:

75.000€ x 31,5 / 100 = 23.625€

From the taxable base we get the full fee, which is what would be paid in surplus value in the event that we did not receive any bonus. The full fee is calculated by applying the tax rate, which is decided by each municipality, and in the case of Torrevieja is 30%. According to the example we have set, the full fee would be:

23.625 x 30 / 100 = 7087.5 €

The last thing that is calculated are the bonuses, which depend a lot on the circumstances of the transmission of the land. In Torrevieja, the bonuses amount to a 50% discount on the full fee if it is an habitual residence inherited by descendants, ascendants or spouses, and 20% in any other case of inheritance.

Does it look like a complex calculation? Our recommendation is that you trust a professional (like our real estate agents) to help you foresee the possible expenses of selling your house, and to put the best price.

Handshake in front of house. Calculate plusvalía in Torrevieja. Calculate surplus value tax in Torrevieja.

Who pays the surplus value tax in Torrevieja? When is it paid?

The surplus value tax is almost always paid, except on very rare occasions. These exemptions are reflected in article 105 of the aforementioned Royal Legislative Decree 2/2004 of March 5, and must be requested from the city hall by presenting an instance with documentation proving the transfer, and the reason for the exemption.

The person who must pay the surplus value, in legal terms, is called the taxpayer. In addition to making the payment, the taxpayer must also present the documents related to the transfer (either sale, inheritance or donation) before the municipality.

If the transfer is a sale, the taxpayer is the seller, and therefore, who must pay the tax. In the event that the seller is not a resident of Spain, a deduction must be made on the money obtained from the sale according to the calculation of the surplus value, in order to pay the tax when it is claimed.

Sometimes, both parties agree that the buyer will pay the tax, but if it is not paid, the administration will claim it from the seller.

If the transmission is an inheritance or a donation, the taxpayer is the receiver of the house, and therefore who must pay the surplus value. However, inheritances are generally subject to the aforementioned bonus.

Woman frowning at computer. Calculate plusvalía in Torrevieja. Calculate surplus value tax in Torrevieja.

What happens when you have sold at a loss?

You probably have noticed that the surplus value tax automatically assumes that the property has gone up-market, whether or not this is true. This is a law that made sense in times of the housing bubble, since almost everything was sold at surplus value, but today the situation is different.

If you have sold at a loss, you have up to four years to exercise your right to claim SUMA, which is the managing entity of the municipality of Torrevieja, to return the full amount, although it is advisable to initiate the process as soon as possible. For this you must provide evidence that you have sold at a loss, which once again works much better with the help of a professional.

A good real estate agent will be able to give you advice and put you in touch with a legal team specialized in suplus value, so that the transaction is as advantageous as possible for you. If you want to sell your house in Torrevieja, contact the Inmokea team; Our professionals will advise you so you do not have any surprises.
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4 Responses

  1. Martyn Southcott
    | Reply

    Hi,

    I am a non spanish, UK citizen living in UK selling a property in Torrevieja wehich was purchased in 1997.

    Is the Plus Valia based on the cadastral value of the land at date of original purchase, or date of sale?

    As the property was a habitual residence for my deceased mother under a usufruct, which I am currently discharging leaving the Deeds soley in my name, should I get a bonus reducing the full fee?

    Using a calculation for Torrevieja, https://www.foro-ciudad.com/plusvalia-municipal.php, its generating a Liquid Fee equally the Full Fee.

    • Ana Lahuerta
      | Reply

      Hi Martyn!

      The plusvalía is based on the cadastral value of the land at the date of sale.

      Keep in mind that if you’ve inherited your mother’s flat under Spanish law, you have to pay the plusvalía twice -once when you inherit the house, and a second time when you sell it.

      If you’re asking about the plusvalía you have to pay because of the inheritance, according to the law in Torrevieja you can qualify to a 50% bonus. However, if you’re asking about the plusvalía you have to pay when selling the house, I’m afraid there is no bonus.

      That said, my recommendation is that you count on a lawyer to guide you through this. If you need help selling your house, we have a legal department that can help you. Feel free to call us at +34 965 453 330 or write us at info@inmokea.com if you have any more questions!

  2. Real Estate Diary
    | Reply

    Thanks for sharing this informative information with us. Really got a very useful info from your blog. Keep it up. I really enjoyed reading this blog. Calculator for selling a house is not an easy task. If you want to know more about calculator for selling a house you can visit our webpage- realestatediary.org4

    • Equipo de Marketing
      | Reply

      We are glad that the information has been useful to you, and we hope that you can count on us for any questions regarding homes in the Vega Baja, greetings from Inmokea

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