Property Buying Costs and Taxes in Malta

The cash required to buy property in Malta is higher than the negotiated price. Duty, professional work, finance, insurance and immediate repairs can all fall due at different stages. Check MTCA's current general information on duty with the notary before budgeting.

Ask the notary and bank for a transaction-specific cash schedule. Under the standard route described by MTCA, the buyer pays 5% duty, with 1% paid provisionally after the promise of sale and the balance at the final deed. Reliefs and incentive schemes can reduce the result, so the notary must calculate it for the actual buyer and property. See MTCA's current Buying Property guidance.

The main amounts in a standard purchase

Item	Working figure	When it is normally needed
Agreed deposit	Often 10% of the purchase price, but the contract can set another amount	On the promise of sale (konvenju)
Provisional duty	1% of the higher of the transfer value or market value used for duty	The promise of sale must be filed within 21 days
Standard total buyer's duty	5% before any applicable exemption or relief	1% provisionally; remaining balance at the final deed
Purchase-price balance	Agreed price minus the deposit already paid	At the final deed, using buyer funds and any loan
Notary, searches, architect, bank and insurance	No single statutory percentage covers all of these	Obtain written estimates before signing the promise of sale

For a €300,000 property with no relief, the standard duty calculation is €15,000 in total: €3,000 provisionally and €12,000 remaining at the final deed. A usual 10% contractual deposit would be €30,000, but that deposit forms part of the €300,000 price rather than an additional tax.

The asking price is only the first line of the budget

At promise of sale

The agreed deposit and 1% provisional duty are normally due. The notary files the promise of sale and provisional-duty payment within 21 days.

Before final deed

Budget for the price balance, remaining duty, notarial and search work, bank and insurance costs.

After purchase

Allow for utilities, common expenses, maintenance, furnishings and any compliance work.

Questions for the cost sheet

• Which payments are taxes and which are professional fees?
• When is each amount due?
• Which amount is refundable if the transaction fails?
• Are any buyer reliefs available and what evidence is required?
• What ongoing costs begin immediately after completion?

Build an all-in acquisition budget

1. Start with the agreed price and deposit schedule.
2. Ask the notary for an estimate of duty, searches and professional costs.
3. Add architect or survey work and any specialist inspections.
4. Include bank valuation, legal, loan and insurance costs where relevant.
5. Price immediate works, furniture, utility changes and condominium charges.
6. Keep a contingency for defects or requirements found during due diligence.
7. Confirm tax treatment with the responsible professional before signing.

Cash-flow the purchase, not just the total

Map deposits, duty, professional fees, loan funds and completion money by date. A purchase can be affordable overall but still fail because cash is required earlier than expected.

Related practical guides

Start with Property in Malta: Complete Renting, Buying and Owning Guide for the wider picture.

• Buying Property in Malta: Complete Step-by-Step Guide
• Buying Property in Malta as a Foreigner: AIP Permits
• Promise of Sale in Malta: Understanding the Konvenju

Browse all Property guides.

Get written estimates

Use current figures from your notary, lender and professionals for the specific transaction; do not budget from a percentage copied from an old article.

Last reviewed: 9 August 2026. Recheck the official sources in the article metadata when a deadline, price, eligibility rule or service arrangement affects your decision.