property tax

 Hola,

We had a notification for the last owner for property tax, it seem it hasn't been paid for this year, we bought in Jan.

Our soliciter told us that he kept so much money back to make sure all bills were paid.

I believe that we pay the tax the next year for the last.

Before i go to the soliciter can anyone enlighten me, as the girl at the suma office says we will have to pay it.

Regards to all.

Jeanie.

Hi,

if you are talking about I.B.I. tax (the equivalent of

english council tax) then as far as I am aware

whoever owns the property on the 1st january

has to pay the tax for that year.

What happens tends to vary despite what the law says.

Although less common in the past on many completions these costs now get apportioned depending on number of months of ownership.

If you completed in January then most would say you should definitely pay the 2010 IBI.

Demands tend not to be issued until March or April.

So when completion took place all issued IBI demands had been paid.

IBI for 2010 you pay

if it's 2009 then your lawyer should have retained funds to cover this.

We completed on our property at the end of December last year, received the bill and have paid the IBI for the whole of 2010.  I would say you should pay it.

I understand that, as far as the ayuntamiento is concerned, whoever owned the property at 00.01 on 1 January is liable for IBI for the whole of the year just starting.  But, like most things, this can be varied by agreement at the time of completion.  If it isn't covered in the agreement at the time of completion then the ayuntamiento will pursue the current owners on the basis that, as far as they are concerned, you took on the debt to them when you took on the property.

Bottom line in your case - you pay.