Updated
GL-S-07
Glossary · Real estate
Stamp Duty - Stamp Duty
A tax paid to the state when buying real estate, usually a percentage of the price. A separate cost item on top of the property price, factored into the budget.
01 / In 30 seconds
The short answer
- What it is
- A tax paid to the state on buying real estate, usually a percentage of the price
- Where it applies
- Almost any property transaction, including for residence
- How much
- The rate depends on the country and the property’s price
- Distinctive feature
- A separate cost item on top of the price
- Can you prepare
- Yes: build the duty into the full budget of the deal
02 / In plain words
What Stamp Duty means
Stamp duty is a tax the state levies on the purchase of real estate, usually as a percentage of the property’s price. It is paid for the transaction itself and the registration of ownership, separately from the price of the property, and it cannot be “included” in the price — it is an additional cost for the buyer.
The amount of the duty depends on the country and often on the price: in some places it is a fixed percentage, in others a progressive scale — the more expensive the property, the higher the rate. Other associated costs are often added to stamp duty: notary, registration, legal support. Together they can noticeably increase the total cost of the deal.
In citizenship and residence programmes through real estate, it is important to build stamp duty into the budget from the start: the investment threshold is calculated on the property’s price, and the duty comes on top. That is why the full cost of entering the programme is calculated with all taxes and costs, not just the property price.
A case from practice
An investor buys property for residence at the investment threshold price. On top comes stamp duty — a percentage of the price — plus the notary and registration. The full budget of the deal turns out to be noticeably higher than the property’s price tag, so these costs are budgeted in advance as a separate line.
Where stamp duty arises
- Buying property abroad
- Golden Visa and CBI through real estate
- Calculating the full budget of a deal
- Registering ownership
- Comparing countries by total cost
- Planning investments
03 / What it covers
What matters about stamp duty
Amount
- Usually a percentage of the price
- Fixed or a scale
- Depends on the country
For what
- For the transaction
- Registration of ownership
- Separate from the price
Plus costs
- Notary
- Registration
- Legal support
In programmes
- Comes on top of the threshold
- Built into the budget
- The full cost of entry
04 / How it works
How to account for stamp duty in the budget
Find out the country’s rate
Calculate the duty from the price
Add the associated costs
The full budget of the deal
No surprises
05 / Key facts
What you need to know
01
Stamp duty is a tax on buying real estate
02
Usually a percentage of the property’s price
03
It is paid separately from the price, on top
04
The rate depends on the country and the price
05
In programmes it is built into the full budget
Common mistakes
- Counting only the property’s price and forgetting the duty
- Not accounting for the notary and registration
- Comparing countries without the total cost
- Underestimating the progressive scale for expensive properties
- Learning of the costs only at the deal
06 / Expert advice
How to prepare in advance
The full cost of the deal is calculated with all taxes and costs, not just the property price: find out the country’s stamp duty rate, calculate it from the price and add the notary, registration and support. In programmes the duty comes on top of the investment threshold, so it is built into the budget from the start.
What we do for you. We always show the full budget of the deal: the property’s price plus stamp duty, notary, registration and support — with no hidden lines. That way you see in advance the total cost of entering the programme, not just the price tag of the property.
Igor VentsHead of real estate, Title Deed and property checks
07 / Questions
Frequently asked questions
A tax paid to the state on buying real estate, usually a percentage of the price. It is paid for the transaction and the registration of ownership, separately from the property’s price.
It depends on the country and often on the price: there may be a fixed percentage or a progressive scale. The exact rate is confirmed for the particular country and property.
No, it is a separate cost for the buyer on top of the price. That is why the full budget of a deal is always higher than the property’s price tag.
Notary, registration of ownership, legal support, sometimes taxes. All of these are budgeted together with stamp duty.
Yes: the investment threshold is calculated on the property’s price, and the duty and costs come on top. That is why the full cost of entry is calculated with all taxes.
The rate is set by the state, but the total depends on the price and type of property. Sometimes the choice of property or the structure of the deal affects the amount — this is calculated in advance.
Related terms
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