Authored by the expert who managed and guided the team behind the France Property Pack
Yes, the analysis of Paris' property market is included in our pack
Paris is one of the most expensive and competitive property markets in Europe, so understanding every cost before you buy is essential.
This guide breaks down exactly what foreigners pay in taxes, fees, and hidden costs when purchasing real estate in Paris in 2026.
We constantly update this blog post to reflect the latest rates and regulations.
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 Paris.
Overall, how much extra should I budget on top of the purchase price in Paris in 2026?
How much are total buyer closing costs in Paris in 2026?
As of early 2026, total buyer closing costs in Paris typically range from 7.5% to 8.5% of the purchase price for resale properties (roughly €37,500 to €42,500 on a €500,000 apartment, or $40,500 to $46,000 USD), while new-build purchases come in much lower at around 2% to 4%.
The minimum extra budget you can realistically expect in Paris is about 2% to 3% of the purchase price (€10,000 to €15,000, or $10,800 to $16,200 USD, on a €500,000 property), but this only applies if you buy a new-build with no complications.
On the high end, you should plan for up to 9% to 10% of the purchase price (€45,000 to €50,000, or $48,600 to $54,000 USD, on €500,000) if you buy resale and encounter extra costs like translation services, legal reviews, or building charge adjustments.
Whether your Paris closing costs land at the low or high end depends mainly on whether you buy new-build versus resale, whether you need translation or interpreter services, and whether the apartment building has upcoming major works that require negotiation.
What's the usual total % of fees and taxes over the purchase price in Paris?
The usual total percentage of fees and taxes over the purchase price in Paris in 2026 is around 8% for resale properties and approximately 3% for new-build apartments.
Most standard residential property transactions in Paris fall within a realistic range of 7% to 9% for existing homes and 2% to 4% for developer sales, depending on complexity and whether an agent fee applies to the buyer.
Out of that total, government taxes (transfer duties, land registry fees) typically account for about 5.5% to 6% on resale properties, while professional service fees like the notary's regulated remuneration make up the remaining 1% to 2%.
By the way, you will find much more detailed data in our property pack covering the real estate market in Paris.
What costs are always mandatory when buying in Paris in 2026?
As of early 2026, the mandatory costs when buying property in Paris include notary acquisition costs (which bundle transfer taxes, land registry fees, regulated notary fees, and disbursements), plus any required document updates if something is missing or expired at signature.
Optional but highly recommended costs for foreign buyers in Paris include professional interpreter or translation services for the deed signing, independent legal or tax advice if your situation involves company ownership or complex residency issues, and a thorough review of the building's recent general assembly minutes and works reserve fund.
Don't lose money on your property in Paris
100% of people who have lost money there have spent less than 1 hour researching the market. We have reviewed everything there is to know. Grab our guide now.
What taxes do I pay when buying a property in Paris in 2026?
What is the property transfer tax rate in Paris in 2026?
As of early 2026, the department portion of the property transfer tax in Paris (département 75) is 5.00%, but the total transfer tax bundle you actually pay at closing is higher because it includes communal add-ons and other components that bring the effective rate to roughly 5.8% to 6%.
There are no extra transfer taxes for foreigners buying property in Paris, as French transfer duties are determined by the property's location and transaction type rather than the buyer's nationality.
For resale properties in Paris, you generally do not pay VAT on top of the purchase price because you pay transfer duties instead, while new-build purchases from developers typically have VAT already embedded in the quoted price.
France does not have a separate "stamp duty" like the UK system; what people call stamp duty is essentially the registration and transfer duty bundle (DMTO) that the notary collects at closing as part of your acquisition costs.
Are there tax exemptions or reduced rates for first-time buyers in Paris?
France does not have a nationwide first-time buyer transfer tax exemption like some other countries, so most Paris buyers pay the standard rates regardless of whether it is their first property purchase.
If you buy property through a company in Paris, the transfer duty mechanics remain similar for simple residential purchases, but the income tax and capital gains tax treatment later can differ significantly, making professional tax advice worthwhile.
There is a meaningful tax difference between buying new-build and resale in Paris: new-build purchases from developers have much lower notary and acquisition costs (around 2% to 4%) compared to resale properties (around 7.5% to 8.5%).
Since Paris does not offer a universal first-time buyer exemption, there are no specific documentation requirements for such relief, but your notary remains the best checkpoint for any narrow relief programs that might apply to your specific situation.
We did some research and made this infographic to help you quickly compare rental yields of the major cities in France 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 Paris in 2026?
How much does a notary or conveyancing lawyer cost in Paris in 2026?
As of early 2026, the notary's regulated remuneration in Paris is a relatively small portion of your total "frais d'acquisition" bill (roughly 1% to 1.5% of the price, or €5,000 to €7,500 on a €500,000 property, equivalent to $5,400 to $8,100 USD), because most of what you pay the notary is actually taxes they collect on behalf of the government.
Notary fees in Paris are charged according to a regulated sliding scale based on the property price, not as a negotiable flat rate, and the tariff has remained stable into early 2026.
Translation or interpreter services for foreign buyers in Paris typically cost between €200 and €400 per hour for professional legal document translation (roughly $215 to $430 USD), and €300 to €800 (roughly $325 to $865 USD) for an interpreter present at your signing appointment.
Most foreign buyers making a straightforward personal purchase in Paris do not need a separate tax advisor, but if you have a complex situation involving multiple countries, company ownership, or furnished rental plans, a targeted consultation typically costs €500 to €1,500 (roughly $540 to $1,620 USD).
We have a whole part dedicated to these topics in our our real estate pack about Paris.
What's the typical real estate agent fee in Paris in 2026?
As of early 2026, real estate agent fees in Paris typically range from 3% to 6% of the property price (€15,000 to €30,000 on a €500,000 apartment, or roughly $16,200 to $32,400 USD), with smaller properties sometimes attracting higher percentage fees.
Whether the buyer or seller pays the agent fee in Paris depends on the listing and mandate structure, and many listings show "FAI" (frais d'agence inclus) meaning the displayed price already includes the agency fee.
The realistic low-to-high range for agent fees in Paris runs from about 2.5% for high-value properties to 7% or more for smaller apartments, with most transactions falling in the 3% to 5% range.
How much do legal checks cost (title, liens, permits) in Paris?
Most legal checks in Paris, including title verification, liens searches, and permits review, are handled within the notary process and wrapped into your global acquisition costs, so you typically do not pay separate fees for these services beyond what is already in the notary disbursements.
If your bank requires a property valuation for a mortgage in Paris, the valuation fee typically costs between €200 and €600 (roughly $215 to $650 USD), or more for unusual or high-value properties.
The most critical check you should never skip in Paris is a thorough review of the copropriété (building co-ownership) documents, including recent general assembly minutes, the works reserve fund status, and any voted or planned major repairs, because these directly impact your future costs.
Buying a property with hidden issues is something we mention in our list of risks and pitfalls people face when buying real estate in Paris.
Get the full checklist for your due diligence in Paris
Don't repeat the same mistakes others have made before you. Make sure everything is in order before signing your sales contract.
What hidden or surprise costs should I watch for in Paris right now?
What are the most common unexpected fees buyers discover in Paris?
The most common unexpected fees buyers discover in Paris include sharp increases in copropriété (building) charges after purchase due to planned major works like roof or elevator repairs, last-minute diagnostics or document refresh costs when something is expired, and occasional dubious agency clauses that add surprise fees.
You typically do not inherit the seller's unpaid property taxes as your personal liability in Paris, but you should expect proration discussions about who pays what for the current year, and in apartment buildings, building-level charge arrears can become a negotiation point.
Scams with fake listings or fake fees do exist in Paris, particularly schemes asking for deposits before viewings or payments outside the notary system, so you should stick to established channels, verify who you are dealing with, and treat unusual urgency as a red flag.
Fees that are usually not disclosed upfront by sellers or agents in Paris include future copropriété works that have been voted but not yet billed, short-term rental compliance costs if that is your plan, and the extra administrative friction if you are a non-resident handling everything remotely.
In our property pack covering the property buying process in Paris, we go into details so you can avoid these pitfalls.
Are there extra fees if the property has a tenant in Paris?
When buying a property with a tenant in Paris, you may face extra costs of €500 to €1,500 (roughly $540 to $1,620 USD) for legal review of the existing lease, deposit status verification, and compliance documentation, rather than any specific "tenanted property tax."
As the buyer, you inherit the existing lease and must respect all French and Paris-specific landlord obligations, including rent control rules in Paris, tenant notice periods, and deposit handling requirements.
Terminating an existing lease immediately after purchase in Paris is generally not possible because tenant protections are strong, and you can only end the lease under specific conditions such as selling the property, moving in yourself, or proving a legitimate serious reason, each with required notice periods.
A sitting tenant typically reduces the property's market value in Paris by around 10% to 20% compared to a vacant equivalent, which can improve your negotiating position but also limits your flexibility as an owner.
If you want to optimize your rental strategy, you can read our complete guide on how to buy and rent out in Paris.
We have made this infographic to give you a quick and clear snapshot of the property market in France. 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 Paris?
Which closing costs are negotiable in Paris right now?
The negotiable closing costs in Paris include the real estate agent fee (especially in slower market periods), who pays for document refresh or expired diagnostics, and copropriété charge adjustments if the seller has knowledge of upcoming works voted before the sale.
Closing costs that are fixed by law and cannot be negotiated in Paris include transfer taxes, land registry fees, and the regulated portion of the notary's remuneration, which together make up most of your acquisition cost bill.
Typical discounts buyers can realistically achieve on negotiable fees in Paris range from 0.5% to 1% of the property price on agent commissions in a soft market, plus potential seller credits of a few thousand euros for known building works or document issues.
Can I ask the seller to cover some closing costs in Paris?
Getting a seller to cover some closing costs in Paris is not the default practice since buyers traditionally pay acquisition costs, but it does happen in specific situations such as developer sales programs or when the buyer has strong negotiating leverage.
The specific closing costs sellers in Paris are most commonly willing to cover include credits for already-voted building works, diagnostic document updates, and occasionally a portion of the notary disbursements in developer or distressed sale situations.
Sellers are more likely to accept covering closing costs in Paris when the market is slow, when the property has been listed for a long time, when it has issues like poor energy ratings, or when the seller is motivated by a tight deadline.
Is price bargaining common in Paris in 2026?
As of early 2026, price bargaining is common in Paris but typically tighter than in many other French regions because demand remains structurally strong in most neighborhoods, meaning sellers often have less pressure to accept large discounts.
Buyers in Paris typically negotiate around 3% to 7% below the asking price (€15,000 to €35,000 off a €500,000 apartment, or roughly $16,200 to $37,800 USD), with a realistic midpoint of about 5% for a standard property, though hard-to-sell apartments with poor energy ratings or major upcoming works can see larger reductions.
Don't sign a document you don't understand in Paris
Buying a property over there? We have reviewed all the documents you need to know. Stay out of trouble - grab our comprehensive guide.
What monthly, quarterly or annual costs will I pay as an owner in Paris?
What's the realistic monthly owner budget in Paris right now?
A realistic monthly owner budget for a typical 50-square-meter apartment in Paris in 2026 ranges from €200 to €500 (roughly $215 to $540 USD), covering copropriété charges, insurance, and setting aside a monthly provision for annual property taxes.
The main recurring expense categories that make up this monthly budget in Paris are copropriété (building) charges, which include maintenance, elevator, concierge, and building fund contributions, plus owner insurance and property tax provisioning.
The realistic low-to-high range for monthly owner costs in Paris runs from about €150 per month (roughly $160 USD or €1,800 per year) for a small studio with minimal building services to €800 or more (roughly $865 USD or €9,600 per year) for a larger apartment in a full-service building with concierge and upcoming works.
The monthly cost that varies most in Paris is the copropriété charges, because they depend heavily on building services like elevators and concierges, energy costs for common areas, and whether major works have been voted or are being funded.
You can see how this budget affect your gross and rental yields in Paris here.
What is the annual property tax amount in Paris in 2026?
As of early 2026, the annual property tax (taxe foncière) in Paris uses a base rate of 20.5% (the TFPB rate voted for 2023) applied to the cadastral rental value, plus additional components, resulting in typical annual bills of €400 to €900 for a small studio (roughly $430 to $970 USD), €900 to €1,800 for a typical two-room apartment (roughly $970 to $1,945 USD), and €1,800 to €3,500 or more for larger family apartments (roughly $1,945 to $3,780 USD).
The realistic low-to-high range for annual property taxes in Paris runs from about €400 (roughly $430 USD) for a modest older studio to €3,500 or more (roughly $3,780 USD) for a spacious apartment in a well-located building, with most mid-sized apartments falling between €1,000 and €2,000 (roughly $1,080 to $2,160 USD).
Property tax in Paris is calculated based on the cadastral rental value of your property (a theoretical annual rent set by the tax administration) multiplied by the local tax rates, not on the market value or what you paid for the property.
Some exemptions and reductions to property tax are available in Paris for certain categories of owners, such as elderly or disabled individuals with limited income, but there is no general exemption for first-time buyers or foreigners.
We created this infographic to give you a simple idea of how much it costs to buy property in different parts of France. 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 Paris in 2026?
What tax rate applies to rental income in Paris in 2026?
As of early 2026, rental income in Paris is taxed according to your personal income tax bracket for French tax residents, or at a minimum rate of 20% for non-residents (rising to 30% above certain thresholds), plus social contributions of 17.2% that may apply depending on your affiliation and residency situation.
Landlords in Paris can deduct expenses from rental income taxes under the "real" tax regimes, including costs like loan interest, insurance, repairs, property management, and depreciation for furnished rentals, while those using the simplified "micro" regimes receive a flat allowance instead (50% for furnished, 30% for unfurnished).
The realistic effective tax rate after deductions for typical landlords in Paris varies widely, but under the micro-BIC regime for furnished rentals you effectively pay tax on only 50% of your rental income, which can bring your real tax burden to roughly 10% to 20% of gross rent depending on your bracket.
Foreign property owners in Paris pay rental income tax at the same rates as French residents under most circumstances, though non-residents face a minimum 20% rate and may or may not owe social contributions depending on their home country's social security agreement with France.
Do I pay tax on short-term rentals in Paris in 2026?
As of early 2026, short-term rental income in Paris is taxable under the same BIC framework as other furnished rentals, meaning you either use the micro-BIC regime with its 50% allowance or the real regime with actual expense deductions, plus you must collect and remit the "taxe de séjour" (tourist tax) from guests.
Short-term rental income in Paris is taxed similarly to long-term furnished rental income for income tax purposes, but short-term rentals trigger additional Paris-specific administrative requirements, including mandatory registration of your property and potential change-of-use authorization if you rent your primary residence more than 120 days per year or rent a secondary residence at all.
Want more info about Airbnbs in Paris? We have a full article on Airbnb investment in Paris here.
Get to know the market before buying a property in Paris
Better information leads to better decisions. Get all the data you need before investing a large amount of money. Download our guide.
If I sell later, what taxes and fees will I pay in Paris in 2026?
What's the total cost of selling as a % of price in Paris in 2026?
As of early 2026, the total cost of selling a property in Paris typically ranges from 3% to 8% of the sale price, depending primarily on whether you use an agent, whether capital gains tax applies, and whether you need a fiscal representative as a non-resident.
The realistic low-to-high percentage range for total selling costs in Paris runs from about 1% to 2% if you sell privately with no capital gains tax due, up to 8% or more if you use an agent, owe capital gains tax, and require a fiscal representative.
The specific cost categories that typically make up that total in Paris include real estate agent commission (3% to 6% if applicable), seller diagnostics (a few hundred euros), and potential capital gains tax plus social contributions if you are not exempt, plus fiscal representative fees for non-residents above certain thresholds.
The single largest contributor to selling expenses in Paris is usually the real estate agent commission when you use one, or the capital gains tax when it applies, with agent fees often representing €15,000 to €30,000 on a €500,000 sale (roughly $16,200 to $32,400 USD).
What capital gains tax applies when selling in Paris in 2026?
As of early 2026, the capital gains tax rate for non-residents selling property in Paris is 19% on the taxable gain, plus social contributions typically at 17.2%, bringing the combined rate to 36.2%, though social contribution exemptions may apply depending on your country of residence and social security affiliation.
Exemptions to capital gains tax in Paris include selling your primary residence (full exemption), holding the property for more than 22 years (full exemption on the income tax portion) or 30 years (full exemption including social contributions), and certain specific situations like first-time sales by non-residents who were previously French tax residents.
Foreigners do not pay an extra capital gains tax rate in Paris simply because they are foreign, but non-residents who are not exempt may be required to appoint a fiscal representative (at additional cost) when the sale exceeds €150,000, unless they reside in the EU, EEA, or certain treaty countries.
The capital gain in Paris is calculated as the sale price minus the original purchase price, with adjustments allowed for acquisition costs (either actual or a 7.5% flat rate), eligible improvement works (either actual or a 15% flat rate after 5 years of ownership), and then reduced by allowances based on how long you held the property.
We made this infographic to show you how property prices in France 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 Paris, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Notaires de France | Official guidance from France's national notary body. | We used it to frame realistic buyer closing cost ranges. We also used it to separate taxes from notary remuneration. |
| BOFiP (French Tax Doctrine) | Official published doctrine of the French tax administration. | We used it to confirm transfer duty bundle components. We used it to explain why "transfer tax" includes add-ons. |
| Ville de Paris | Official website of the City of Paris for local taxes. | We used it for Paris-specific tax rates and structures. We also used it for tourist tax and short-term rental rules. |
| impots.gouv.fr (Capital Gains) | French tax authority's official page for property capital gains. | We used it for non-resident capital gains tax rates. We also used it for fiscal representative requirements. |
| Ministère de l'Économie | French government's official consumer guidance site. | We used it to explain property tax calculation methods. We also used it for diagnostics requirements. |
| Institut National de la Consommation (INC) | Public-interest consumer body with legal explanations. | We used it to explain mandatory building works reserve funds. We used it to highlight why charges can jump after purchase. |
| impots.gouv.fr (Furnished Rentals) | Tax authority's official reference for furnished rental taxation. | We used it to explain BIC tax categories and allowances. We also used it for deductible expense guidance. |
| FNAIM | Major French real estate agents federation with fee guidance. | We used it to establish typical agent fee ranges. We used it to explain buyer vs seller payment practices. |
| DGCCRF | French government consumer protection enforcement body. | We used it to flag problematic agency practices. We used it to shape the hidden fees checklist. |
| Notaires du Grand Paris | Official notaries' publication based on Paris transaction data. | We used it for Paris market context and dynamics. We used it to ground negotiation range estimates. |
Get fresh and reliable information about the market in Paris
Don't base significant investment decisions on outdated data. Get updated and accurate information with our guide.
Related blog posts