Tools — Acquisition
French property transfer tax calculator
When you buy French property, the purchase price is not the only figure you write a cheque for. "Frais de notaire" are predominantly taxes and duties collected by the notaire on behalf of the French state. For older properties, total transfer costs typically run between 7% and 8% of the purchase price; for new-build properties (VEFA), the figure drops to roughly 2% to 3%.
Calculator
Your purchase
Estimate
Total transfer costs
Indicative total
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- Droits de mutation
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- Contribution sécurité immobilière
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- Notaire's émoluments
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- Disbursements
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Illustrative figures based on the standard 5.09% departmental rate. Confirm with a notary before signing.
FAQ
Frequently asked
Are transfer taxes the same across all of France? +
No. The departmental share of the droits de mutation varies. Most departments apply 4.5%; some apply 3.8%. Paris (75) and a handful of others have maintained the lower rate.
Do I pay French transfer tax if I buy through a company (SCI)? +
The tax treatment depends on the structure of the acquisition and whether the shares or the property itself are being transferred. A notary or tax adviser should be consulted before structuring the purchase.
Can the notary's fee be negotiated? +
Since 2016, notaries may grant a discount of up to 20% on their regulated fees (émoluments) for transactions above €150,000. The taxes themselves are not negotiable — they are collected at fixed statutory rates.
Is VAT applicable on French property purchases? +
VAT (TVA at 20%) applies to new-build properties (less than five years old) sold by a professional developer. In that case, transfer taxes are reduced to approximately 0.715%.
Who pays the frais de notaire — buyer or seller? +
By convention, the buyer pays. The seller may agree to cover them as part of the negotiation (acte en main), but this is uncommon.
For an independent valuation before you commit to a purchase price —
Commission an acquisition valuation →