What is the cadastral value?

The cadastral value is an administrative figure that the Spanish Administration assigns to all real estate properties. This value serves as a basis for calculating various local taxes (such as the Real Estate Tax or IBI) and is also used to determine the tax liability of non-residents through Form 210, especially when the property is not rented out.

According to Spanish legislation, the cadastral value is defined as:

“The administrative value determined objectively for each property, obtained by applying the valuation criteria established in the Value Report of the corresponding municipality.”

How is the cadastral value calculated?

To set the cadastral value of a property, the General Directorate of Cadastre takes into account several essential factors, including:

• Location and urban environment: the geographical situation of the property, the urban characteristics of the land, and its development potential are analyzed.
• Construction characteristics: the materials used, the quality of the building, its age, maintenance, and whether the building has historical or artistic value are considered.
• Market conditions: land and construction prices are compared with market values and production costs, ensuring that the cadastral value does not exceed the real market price.

To avoid overvaluations, the Ministry of Finance establishes a reference coefficient (usually around 0.5 of the market value) which is applied when calculating the cadastral value.

Where to check the cadastral value?

The cadastral value can be easily found in:

• The IBI receipt, issued by the City Council or the local collection agency.
• The deed of sale (although in this case it may be outdated).
• The Cadastre's Electronic Headquarters, accessible with a digital certificate or NIE number, where the updated property data is displayed.

Cadastral information is updated periodically according to the coefficients approved in the General State Budget Laws, which ensures that it reflects the economic reality of the real estate market.

How is the non-resident tax (Form 210) calculated?

If you are a non-resident in Spain and own a property that is not rented out, you must file Form 210 annually. In this case, an imputed income is calculated based on the cadastral value of your property.