Plusvalía is a municipal tax on the increase in your land’s value during ownership, paid by the seller to the Ajuntament de Sitges when you sell. Here is how it works and how it is calculated since the 2021 reform.
What plusvalía is
Its full name is the Impuesto sobre el Incremento de Valor de los Terrenos de Naturaleza Urbana (IIVTNU). It taxes the increase in the value of the urban land — not the building — between the date you bought and the date you sell. The seller pays it to the Ajuntament de Sitges.
How it is calculated since 2021
Since the 2021 reform you may choose the lower of two methods: an objective calculation (a municipal coefficient applied to the cadastral land value and the years owned) or the real gain (the actual increase in land value).
If there is no gain on the land, no plusvalía is due — but you still declare the sale.
How and when to pay
The plusvalía is declared and paid within 30 working days of completion, to the Ajuntament de Sitges or its tax office. Your lawyer or gestor usually handles it.
It is an allowable cost against your capital gain, so keep the receipt.
| Plusvalía | Detail |
|---|---|
| Who pays | The seller |
| Paid to | Ajuntament de Sitges |
| Based on | Increase in urban land value |
| Methods | Objective or real gain (the lower of the two) |
| Deadline | Within 30 working days of the sale |
| No gain? | No tax, but you still declare |
Related guides
Selling property in Sitges · Capital gains tax · Selling in Spain · Cost of buying.
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Frequently asked questions
What is plusvalía in Sitges?
Plusvalía (IIVTNU) is a municipal tax on the increase in the value of the urban land during your ownership, paid by the seller to the Ajuntament de Sitges when the property is sold.
Who pays plusvalía, the buyer or the seller?
On a normal sale the seller pays the plusvalía. (On a gift or inheritance, the person receiving the property pays.)
How is plusvalía calculated since 2021?
Since the 2021 reform you can choose the lower of two methods: an objective calculation using a municipal coefficient on the cadastral land value and years owned, or the real increase in land value.
Do I pay plusvalía if I sell at a loss?
No. If there has been no increase in the land value, no plusvalía is due — but you must still declare the sale to the Ajuntament.