Authored by the expert who managed and guided the team behind the Italy Property Pack
Yes, the analysis of Florence's property market is included in our pack
If you are a foreigner looking to buy property in Florence, understanding the extra costs beyond the purchase price is essential to avoid budget surprises.
This guide covers all the taxes, fees, and hidden expenses you will face when buying residential real estate in Florence in 2026.
We constantly update this blog post to reflect the latest regulations and market conditions in the Florence property market.
And if you're planning to buy a property in this place, you may want to download our pack covering the real estate market in Florence.
Overall, how much extra should I budget on top of the purchase price in Florence in 2026?
How much are total buyer closing costs in Florence in 2026?
As of early 2026, foreign buyers purchasing resale property in Florence should expect total closing costs between 10% and 15% of the purchase price (roughly €35,000 to €52,500 on a €350,000 apartment, or $38,000 to $57,000 / €35,000 to €52,500), which covers agency fees, purchase taxes, and notary costs.
The minimum extra budget possible in Florence is around 4% to 6% of the purchase price (approximately €14,000 to €21,000 on a €350,000 property, or $15,000 to $23,000), but this requires buying resale without an agent and having a low cadastral value relative to the price.
At the high end, buyers purchasing new-build properties with VAT should plan for 18% to 22% of the purchase price in Florence (up to €77,000 on a €350,000 property, or roughly $84,000), especially when adding mortgage costs and complex legal situations.
The main factors that determine where you land in this range are whether you buy resale or new-build, whether you use a real estate agent, the cadastral value of the property, and whether you qualify for "prima casa" tax reductions.
What's the usual total % of fees and taxes over the purchase price in Florence?
The usual total percentage of fees and taxes over the purchase price in Florence ranges from 10% to 15% for resale properties and 14% to 20% for new-build properties purchased from VAT-charging developers.
This range covers most standard property transactions in Florence, with the majority of foreign buyers landing somewhere in the middle depending on their specific situation.
Government taxes typically account for 5% to 12% of this total (mainly registration tax or VAT), while professional service fees like notary and agent commissions make up the remaining 5% to 8%.
By the way, you will find much more detailed data in our property pack covering the real estate market in Florence.
What costs are always mandatory when buying in Florence in 2026?
As of early 2026, the mandatory costs when buying property in Florence include purchase taxes (either registration tax or VAT depending on the seller), mortgage and cadastral taxes, notary fees for the deed, and registration filings with the Italian authorities.
Optional but highly recommended costs in Florence include independent technical due diligence by a geometra or engineer (especially important in historic buildings), translation services if you do not read legal Italian, and a tax advisor consultation if your situation involves "prima casa" eligibility questions or company ownership.
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What taxes do I pay when buying a property in Florence in 2026?
What is the property transfer tax rate in Florence in 2026?
As of early 2026, the standard property transfer tax rate in Florence for resale purchases is 9% registration tax (imposta di registro) on the cadastral value, plus €50 mortgage tax and €50 cadastral tax, with a minimum registration tax of €1,000.
There are no extra transfer taxes for foreigners buying property in Florence, as the tax rates depend on the type of transaction (VAT versus registration tax) and eligibility for "prima casa" reductions rather than on nationality.
Buyers pay VAT on residential property in Florence when purchasing from a VAT-charging seller such as a developer or construction company, with VAT typically at 10% of the full purchase price (or 4% with "prima casa" benefits) plus €200 fixed registration, mortgage, and cadastral taxes.
Stamp duty in Florence is most noticeable when registering the preliminary contract ("compromesso"), which costs €200 fixed registration tax plus 0.5% on the deposit amount (caparra confirmatoria) or 3% on a caparra penitenziale.
Are there tax exemptions or reduced rates for first-time buyers in Florence?
First-time buyers in Florence can access "prima casa" tax reductions, which lower the registration tax from 9% to 2% on resale purchases (or VAT from 10% to 4% on new builds), while mortgage and cadastral taxes drop to €50 each.
If you buy property through a company instead of as an individual in Florence, you generally lose access to "prima casa" individual benefits, and the tax treatment shifts based on the seller's VAT position, so budget for specialized tax advice in this scenario.
There is a significant tax difference between new-build and resale properties in Florence: resale typically means registration tax of 2% or 9% plus small fixed taxes, while new-build purchases from developers trigger VAT of 4% or 10% on the full price plus €200 each for registration, mortgage, and cadastral taxes.
To qualify for "prima casa" reductions in Florence, foreign buyers must typically commit to using the property as their main residence and meet residency-related requirements, which means purely investment or second-home purchases usually do not qualify.
We did some research and made this infographic to help you quickly compare rental yields of the major cities in Italy versus those in neighboring countries. It provides a clear view of how this country positions itself as a real estate investment destination, which might interest you if you’re planning to invest there.
Which professional fees will I pay as a buyer in Florence in 2026?
How much does a notary or conveyancing lawyer cost in Florence in 2026?
As of early 2026, notary fees in Florence typically range from €2,000 to €6,000 (approximately $2,200 to $6,500 or €2,000 to €6,000), covering the professional fee, administrative outlays, and filings, with the final amount depending on property price, complexity, and whether a mortgage deed is included.
Notary fees in Florence are usually charged as a combination of a percentage of the property value plus fixed components for specific services, rather than a simple flat rate or pure percentage.
Translation or interpreter services for foreign buyers in Florence typically cost between €200 and €700 ($220 to $760 or €200 to €700), which is money well spent if you are not comfortable reading legal Italian contracts and condominium documents.
A tax advisor in Florence is not mandatory for straightforward individual purchases but is recommended if you have questions about "prima casa" eligibility, company ownership, or rental taxation, with fees typically ranging from €300 to €1,200 ($330 to $1,300 or €300 to €1,200) for a focused consultation.
We have a whole part dedicated to these topics in our our real estate pack about Florence.
What's the typical real estate agent fee in Florence in 2026?
As of early 2026, the typical real estate agent fee in Florence is 2% to 4% of the purchase price plus 22% VAT, bringing the all-in cost to approximately 2.44% to 4.88% (on a €350,000 property, that means roughly €8,500 to €17,000 or $9,200 to $18,500).
In Florence (and Italy generally), both the buyer and the seller often pay a commission, either to the same agency or to their respective agents, which is why agent fees can be a significant part of your closing cost budget.
The realistic low-to-high range for agent fees in Florence runs from around 2% for negotiated or high-value deals up to 4% or more for smaller transactions, with VAT always added on top.
How much do legal checks cost (title, liens, permits) in Florence?
Basic registry and cadastral checks in Florence typically cost €100 to €300 ($110 to $330 or €100 to €300) in direct costs, but the more important expense is independent technical due diligence by a geometra or engineer, which runs €800 to €2,500 ($870 to $2,700 or €800 to €2,500) to verify permits, conformity, and condominium documentation.
Property valuation fees in Florence, required if you take a mortgage, typically cost €300 to €600 ($330 to $650 or €300 to €600) depending on the bank and property type.
The most critical legal check in Florence that should never be skipped is the technical due diligence on permits and building conformity, because older Florentine buildings in areas like Santo Spirito, San Frediano, or Santa Croce often have irregular internal layouts, historic-building constraints, or unregistered modifications that can cause serious problems later.
Buying a property with hidden issues is something we mention in our list of risks and pitfalls people face when buying real estate in Florence.
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What hidden or surprise costs should I watch for in Florence right now?
What are the most common unexpected fees buyers discover in Florence?
The most common unexpected fees buyers discover in Florence include preliminary contract registration taxes (€200 plus 0.5% on deposits), condominium arrears for the current and previous year that the buyer can inherit, extraordinary building works voted before purchase but billed afterward, and agency commission timing that may be due at the preliminary contract rather than at closing.
In Florence, buyers can inherit unpaid condominium contributions for the current year and the previous year under Italian law, which is a classic surprise for foreigners who do not request written confirmation of paid status from the condominium administrator before closing.
Scams with fake listings or fake reservation fees do occur in high-demand cities like Florence, so you should only pay through traceable channels tied to formal documents and work with reputable, verified intermediaries.
Fees that are usually not disclosed upfront in Florence include the VAT on top of the agent's quoted commission percentage, preliminary contract registration taxes, and potential condominium extraordinary works that have been approved but not yet invoiced.
In our property pack covering the property buying process in Florence, we go into details so you can avoid these pitfalls.
Are there extra fees if the property has a tenant in Florence?
If the property in Florence has a tenant, you may face extra costs of €300 to €800 ($330 to $870 or €300 to €800) for legal or administrative help to review the lease terms, deposits, notice periods, and your obligations as the new landlord.
When purchasing a tenanted property in Florence, the buyer inherits the existing lease agreement and must honor its terms, including the tenant's right to remain for the contract duration and all deposit obligations.
Terminating an existing lease immediately after purchase in Florence is generally not possible unless the lease allows for it or you can demonstrate specific legal grounds, so plan for potential delays if you need the property for personal use.
A sitting tenant in Florence typically reduces the property's appeal to owner-occupiers and can provide negotiating leverage for a lower price, though this varies depending on lease terms and remaining duration.
If you want to optimize your rental strategy, you can read our complete guide on how to buy and rent out in Florence.
We have made this infographic to give you a quick and clear snapshot of the property market in Italy. It highlights key facts like rental prices, yields, and property costs both in city centers and outside, so you can easily compare opportunities. We’ve done some research and also included useful insights about the country’s economy, like GDP, population, and interest rates, to help you understand the bigger picture.
Which fees are negotiable, and who really pays what in Florence?
Which closing costs are negotiable in Florence right now?
The negotiable closing costs in Florence include the real estate agent commission (especially on higher-value properties) and some components of the notary's professional fee, though you should request quotes from multiple notaries to compare.
Closing costs that are fixed by law and cannot be negotiated in Florence include all government taxes such as registration tax, VAT, mortgage tax, cadastral tax, and the registration fees for the preliminary contract.
Buyers in Florence can realistically negotiate a 0.5% to 1% reduction on agent commission and potentially €300 to €500 on notary fees by shopping around, though the savings depend on the property value and your bargaining position.
Can I ask the seller to cover some closing costs in Florence?
In Florence, it is uncommon for sellers to directly cover buyer closing costs, but you can certainly ask, and the more realistic outcome is that sellers agree to a price reduction that effectively offsets some of your expenses.
The specific closing costs sellers are most commonly willing to help with in Florence are indirect: they may accept a lower sale price, cover minor repair costs, or agree to handle outstanding condominium fees rather than explicitly paying your taxes or agent fees.
Sellers in Florence are more likely to accept covering some costs or reducing the price when the property has been on the market for a long time, when the market is slower, or when there are condition issues that reduce buyer interest.
Is price bargaining common in Florence in 2026?
As of early 2026, price bargaining is common in Florence, though the city's strong demand means buyers have less leverage than in many other Italian cities, and most successful negotiations cluster around 4% to 8% below the asking price for typical resale homes.
According to Tecnocasa data reported by Idealista, the average discount actually achieved in Florence was around 6.4% in late 2024, while Idealista's "requested discount" indicator for the Florence province shows buyers ask for about 20% off, highlighting the gap between what buyers request and what they actually get.
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What monthly, quarterly or annual costs will I pay as an owner in Florence?
What's the realistic monthly owner budget in Florence right now?
The realistic monthly owner budget for an apartment in Florence (before utilities) typically ranges from €150 to €400 ($165 to $435 or €150 to €400), covering condominium fees, routine maintenance, and the municipal waste tax (TARI).
The main recurring expense categories in this Florence monthly budget include condominium fees (condominio) for shared building costs like stairs, elevator, common heating, and administration, plus TARI (the city waste tax) and minor maintenance reserves.
The realistic low-to-high range for monthly owner costs in Florence runs from about €100 ($110 or €100) for a small apartment without a lift or concierge, up to €600 or more ($650 or €600+) for larger units in buildings with elevators, porters, or centralized heating systems.
The monthly cost that tends to vary the most in Florence is the condominium fee, which depends heavily on building age, shared amenities (lift, heating system, courtyard), and whether any extraordinary maintenance works have been approved.
You can see how this budget affect your gross and rental yields in Florence here.
What is the annual property tax amount in Florence in 2026?
As of early 2026, annual property tax (IMU) in Florence applies mainly to second homes and investment properties (not your qualifying primary residence) and the amount depends on your property's cadastral value and category, making a single euro figure misleading without specific property details.
The realistic low-to-high range for annual IMU in Florence varies widely based on cadastral values, but typical second-home apartments might pay €1,000 to €4,000 ($1,100 to $4,350 or €1,000 to €4,000) annually, with higher-value or larger properties paying more.
IMU in Florence is calculated by applying the municipal tax rate to the property's cadastral value (not market value), which is multiplied by a coefficient that varies by property category, meaning historic center apartments often have lower cadastral values relative to their market prices.
If your Florence property qualifies as your "abitazione principale" (primary residence) and is not a luxury category (A/1, A/8, A/9), you are generally exempt from IMU, which is a significant benefit for buyers who plan to live in the property full-time.
We created this infographic to give you a simple idea of how much it costs to buy property in different parts of Italy. As you can see, it breaks down price ranges and property types for popular cities in the country. We hope this makes it easier to explore your options and understand the market.
If I rent it out, what extra taxes and fees apply in Florence in 2026?
What tax rate applies to rental income in Florence in 2026?
As of early 2026, rental income in Florence can be taxed either under ordinary IRPEF rates (progressive, ranging from 23% to 43% depending on total income) or under the optional "cedolare secca" flat tax regime at 21% for standard long-term rentals (or 10% for certain subsidized contracts).
Under the cedolare secca regime in Florence, landlords cannot deduct expenses from rental income because it is a substitute tax that replaces IRPEF, registration tax, and stamp duty on the lease, whereas under the ordinary regime, a 5% flat-rate deduction for expenses is typically allowed.
The realistic effective tax rate for typical landlords in Florence using cedolare secca is a straightforward 21% of gross rent, while those under ordinary IRPEF might face 23% to 35% or higher depending on their overall income bracket.
Foreign property owners in Florence are generally subject to the same rental income tax rules as Italian residents, though non-residents should confirm their specific tax obligations based on their home country's tax treaty with Italy.
Do I pay tax on short-term rentals in Florence in 2026?
As of early 2026, short-term rental income in Florence is taxable and can trigger additional compliance requirements including specific reporting obligations, potential platform withholding, and different licensing or registration rules compared to long-term rentals.
Short-term rental income in Florence can still qualify for cedolare secca in many cases, though recent regulatory changes and municipal rules in high-tourism cities like Florence mean you should budget for specialized tax and legal advice to ensure full compliance.
If you want to optimize your rental strategy, you can read our complete guide on how to buy and rent out in Florence.
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If I sell later, what taxes and fees will I pay in Florence in 2026?
What's the total cost of selling as a % of price in Florence in 2026?
As of early 2026, the total cost of selling a property in Florence typically ranges from 3% to 8% of the sale price, depending mainly on whether you use an agent and whether capital gains tax applies.
The realistic low-to-high percentage range for selling costs in Florence runs from about 1% to 2% if you sell privately without an agent and have no capital gains tax, up to 8% or more if you use a top-tier agency and owe tax on your profit.
The specific cost categories that make up this total in Florence include real estate agent commission (if applicable), required certificates and documentation updates, notary involvement for the deed, and capital gains tax if the sale creates a taxable gain.
The single largest contributor to selling expenses in Florence is usually the real estate agent commission, which typically runs 2% to 4% plus VAT when you use an agency.
What capital gains tax applies when selling in Florence in 2026?
As of early 2026, capital gains from selling property in Florence can be taxed at a 26% substitute tax rate (imposta sostitutiva) paid via the notary at the time of sale, or alternatively included in your ordinary IRPEF income tax return.
Key exemptions to capital gains tax in Florence include sales of properties that have been your primary residence for the majority of the ownership period, and sales occurring more than five years after purchase, which are generally exempt from capital gains tax.
Foreigners selling property in Florence do not pay extra taxes simply because of their nationality; the same capital gains rules apply based on the taxable event, holding period, and whether the property was used as a main home.
Capital gains in Florence are calculated as the difference between the sale price and the original purchase price, potentially adjusted for documented improvement costs and other allowable expenses, with the 26% substitute tax applying to the net gain.
We made this infographic to show you how property prices in Italy compare to other big cities across the region. It breaks down the average price per square meter in city centers, so you can see how cities stack up. It’s an easy way to spot where you might get the best value for your money. We hope you like it.
What sources have we used to write this blog article?
Whether it's in our blog articles or the market analyses included in our property pack about Florence, we always rely on the strongest methodology we can, and we don't throw out numbers at random.
We also aim to be fully transparent, so below we've listed the authoritative sources we used, and explained how we used them and the methods behind our estimates.
| Source | Why It's Authoritative | How We Used It |
|---|---|---|
| Agenzia delle Entrate - Home Purchase Taxes | Italy's official tax authority explaining exact taxes due on property purchases. | We used it as the baseline for registration tax versus VAT scenarios. We also anchored the new-build versus resale tax split with official wording. |
| Agenzia delle Entrate - Prima Casa | The official rulebook for reduced "prima casa" rates and eligibility conditions. | We used it to quantify the reduced 2% registration tax path and fixed €50 taxes. We explained when foreign buyers can actually access these reductions. |
| Consiglio Nazionale del Notariato | The Italian Notariat is a primary, regulated source for property transfers. | We used it to confirm which taxes are paid via the notary. We also structured the mandatory versus optional checklist around real closing practice. |
| Comune di Firenze - IMU | Florence's official municipal guidance on IMU payments and rules. | We used it to ground the Florence-specific owner costs section. We justified using 2025 rates as the best proxy until 2026 rates are published. |
| Comune di Firenze - TARI | The city's official explanation of the waste tax for Florence residents. | We used it to include TARI in the realistic owner budget. We kept the guidance Florence-specific rather than generic Italy-only. |
| MEF - IMU Database | The Ministry's official database for municipal IMU decisions across Italy. | We used it as the reference for verifying exact Florence rates. We avoided relying on unofficial IMU calculators. |
| Idealista - Tecnocasa Discount Data | Reports recognized research house data with city-level negotiation figures. | We used it to show the discount actually achieved in Florence (around 6.4%). We produced a more confident negotiation estimate for buyers. |
| Immobiliare.it - Florence Market | A large portal with transparent local market statistics for Florence. | We used it to sanity-check example purchase prices per square meter. We kept Florence budget numbers realistic rather than abstract. |
| Banco BPM - Notary Cost Guide | A major bank explaining how notary bills are structured in practice. | We used it to triangulate typical notary fee components. We kept the notary section practical based on what buyers actually see on invoices. |
| Agenzia delle Entrate - Capital Gains | The official rule on capital gains tax options when selling property. | We used it to state the 26% substitute tax option at sale. We built the selling costs section with this authoritative anchor. |
| Agenzia delle Entrate - Cedolare Secca | The official page for Italy's flat-tax regime for residential rentals. | We used it to describe the optional regime and what it replaces. We kept the rental section focused on tax impacts for individual landlords. |
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