Budget 2021: Improved Incentives for First Time Property Buyers

UPDATE: The government plans to extend again the measure which reduced stamp duty to 1.5%. Acquirers will have until the end of July to sign a promise of sale and benefit from the reduced rate.

We’ll keep you posted about further announcements.

The existing scheme to aid buyers in purchasing their first home is being extended, with the property value eligible for duty exemption increased from the current upper-limit of €175,000 to €200,000.

This incentive and others affecting the real estate sector have been announced on Monday in the Budget 2021 speech. Yesterday’s budget also extended the reduced duties announced earlier this year as part of the COVID-19 economic regeneration plan.

Reduced stamp duty of 1.5% and Final Withholding Tax of 5% for Inter Vivos transfers will apply to promise-of-sale agreements made until March 2021, and until the end of 2021 for the signing of contracts of sale.

Other property incentives

Duty on property donations is also being eased, with the first €250,000 in the value of a property being exempt, an increase from the previous threshold of €200,000. Amounts in excess of €250,000 shall be subject to duty at the rate of 3.5%

The rate of duty on the acquisition of residential properties is being reduced to 3.5% on the first €200,000.

Reduction in duty for second-time buyers is also being extended to acquisitions made throughout 2021. This scheme allows individuals who sell their first residence to purchase another home to claim a duty refund of up to €3,000 if it is their sole property.

Extension of reduced duty rates on the acquisition of properties located in an Urban Conservation Area (UCA) or in Gozo. The current duty of 2.5% (down from the previous rate of 5%) will continue to apply during 2021

During 2021, all profits derived from the assignment of rights on a promise of sale relating to immovable property will be taxed at a final tax rate of 15% increased from the first €100,000.