Joint Ownership – declaring joint ownership or ending joint ownership in Spain

Filed under : Civil Law, Conveyancing & Property Law, Mijas Office, Property
De Cotta Law Conveyancing

Bringing joint property ownership to an end and declaring joint ownership

This may sound confusing but if you are a joint owner with your spouse, civil partner or with a friend it is important to consider the obligations and tax implications if you sell or inherit half of the property. Equally some married couples or partners were advised to put the property in one name but now find that their spouse or partner can have a higher than expected inheritance tax bill. Also a person may own Spanish property in their own name and wish to transfer half to a new spouse or partner.

Ending co-ownership or joint ownership

In Spain it is possible to bring co-ownership to an end in a Deed of Extinction of Co-Ownership – Extinción de condomino. The ownership must be transferred to only 1 joint owner so this does not work if there are 4 owners who want to transmit to 2. However it is practical in many situations such as divorce or the end of a business relationship where one party wants to retain ownership.

A notarial deed is signed by both parties either in person or by the use of a power of attorney in the Spanish form. The transaction costs are for the notary, Land registry and legal fees. The tax authorities in Andalucia charge 1.5% tax on the fiscal value. Fiscal value is generally less than market value. If there has been a divorce in Spain and there has been a 50/50 split of assets the transaction should be tax exempt though there are some issues arising where the couple cannot show they were married in community of property. The tax situation needs to be ascertained because there are also other matters such as the local improvement tax – plus valia – and the question of tax retentions.

Declaration of community of property

In Spain this is tax exempt where you can show that a couple have decided to own their private assets in community of property instead of in their individual names. This is called a Declaración de comunidad de bienes and is also tax exempt if you can show a couple have decided to declare they will own all their assets jointly in future. This can be suitable where someone has purchased property in Spain in their own name and after marriage they decide they want to own the asset jointly, particularly if it is the family home.

In either case situation needs to be ascertained because there are also other obligations such as the local improvement tax – plus valia – and the question of tax retentions. It also affects the inheritance tax implications.

For more information

Please call our head office on (+34) 952 931 781 or contact Antonio Diaz: [email protected]