At the end of December 2025, the Spanish government updated maximum odds to calculate Urban Land Value Tax Nu (IIVTNU), better known as municipal tax Plusvalia. Changes have been accepted Royal Decree-Law 16/2025 from December 23 and for most housing tenures of less than 15 years, a noticeable increase was expected – in some cases up to 40%.
However, the decree is a law was not approved by the Congress of Deputies, so the increase did not stick. As a result, for calculations in general they continue to use 2024 odds, and the new values for 2026 actually “remained on paper.”
In this case, it is important to take into account the legal nuance: although the decree was not validated, its effect terminates immediately after a negative vote, but the consequences that arose during the period of its action remain. This means that for operations performed from the end of December 2025 to January 27, 2026, increased coefficients could be applied, and then – in the absence of new changes – the coefficients of 2024 are used again.
After the 2021 reform, adopted in connection with the decision of the Constitutional Court, the tax was restructured so that it is not considered that there is always an increase in value (including when selling at a loss). The tax rules also provide that the maximum coefficients must be updated annually by regulation having the force of law (including through the state budget law).
What data is needed to calculate Plusvalia
The rates (type of tax) depend on the specific municipality, but for the calculation the following are always taken into account:
- cadastral value (valor catastral) – basic indicator; it can be found on your last receipt IBI, in the income statement or request from the mayor’s office;
- how many years have passed between the acquisition and transfer of real estate – the applied coefficient depends on this;
- municipalitywhere the object is located – the mayor’s office approves its coefficients within the maximum;
- transfer cost (sale, inheritance, donation);
- acquisition cost.
Separately, the decree establishes the right of municipalities when calculating taxes reduce the cadastral value of land to 15% – depending on how updated the cadastral database is. The idea is to bring the tax closer to the real situation in the local market.
Two methods for calculating the tax base
The Royal Decree-Law provides for two options (the one that is more profitable for the taxpayer is chosen):
- Objective method – the cadastral value (of land) is multiplied by coefficients that depend on the period of ownership and are updated annually taking into account the market. The method is optional.
- Real Method – the difference between the sale/transfer price and the purchase/acquisition price is taken. If the taxpayer proves that the real value added is lower than the objective method, the real calculation can be used.
Useful materials on the topic on alegria-service.com:
