Selling an inherited property in Barcelona: steps, taxes and deadlines

Inheriting a home in Barcelona, especially from abroad, means unfamiliar procedures, deadlines and taxes. Here is the order to follow to sell it smoothly.

1. Gather the documents and accept the inheritance

• Death certificate and the Spanish certificate of last wills.
• The will or, if there is none, a declaration of heirs.
• Notarial deed accepting the inheritance, then registration of the home in the heirs' names at the Land Registry.
• Every foreign heir needs an NIE.

2. Inheritance taxes

• Catalan inheritance tax: due within six months of the death, with significant allowances for spouses, children and close relatives.
• Municipal plusvalía on the inheritance: also six months, extendable on request.

The value declared in the inheritance matters: it becomes your acquisition value when you sell.

3. Agree between heirs

All heirs must sign the sale, in person or by notarial power of attorney. Agree from the start on the minimum price, who decides during negotiation and how costs are shared.

4. Prepare the home

Clearing, deep cleaning, small repairs, painting, home staging and good photos change how buyers see the home, without a full renovation.

5. Sell and declare

Each heir pays tax on their share of the gain (sale price minus the value declared in the inheritance). For non-resident heirs, the buyer withholds 3% of the price on account of that tax.

How we help

L'Agence Barcelona handles the inherited home from start to finish, in English, French, Spanish or Catalan and remotely if needed: coordination with our lawyer, clearing and preparation paid upfront by us, sale and signing at the notary, for a fixed fee of €14,000 + VAT paid only on completion.

Own a home in Barcelona's Zona Alta? L'Agence Barcelona sells homes in Sarrià, Sant Gervasi, Pedralbes, Les Corts, Eixample and Gràcia for a fixed fee of €14,000 + VAT, with home optimisation and full management through to the notary. Get a free valuation based on real sale prices within 24 to 48 hours.

Sources: Catalan Tax Agency, Barcelona city council (IIVTNU), Spanish Tax Agency. General information: every inheritance needs its own legal and tax review.