Authored by the expert who managed and guided the team behind the Italy Property Pack
Yes, the analysis of Venice's property market is included in our pack
Buying property in Venice (Italy) comes with costs beyond the purchase price that many foreign buyers underestimate.
This article breaks down every tax, fee, and hidden cost you should expect when purchasing residential real estate in Venice (Italy) in 2026.
We constantly update this blog post to reflect the latest rules and market conditions.
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 Venice (Italy).
Overall, how much extra should I budget on top of the purchase price in Venice (Italy) in 2026?
How much are total buyer closing costs in Venice (Italy) in 2026?
As of early 2026, total buyer closing costs in Venice (Italy) typically range from 4% to 22% of the purchase price, which means on a €300,000 property you could pay anywhere from €12,000 to €66,000 (roughly $13,000 to $72,000 or £10,000 to £55,000) in additional costs.
The minimum extra budget for closing costs in Venice (Italy) is around 4% to 6% of the purchase price (€12,000 to €18,000 on a €300,000 home, or about $13,000 to $20,000), but this only applies if you qualify for "prima casa" tax relief and skip the real estate agent.
For safe planning, especially as a foreigner who likely won't claim "prima casa" relief, you should budget up to 16% to 22% of the purchase price (€48,000 to €66,000 on a €300,000 property, or roughly $52,000 to $72,000) to cover all potential fees.
The main factors that push your closing costs to the high end in Venice (Italy) include not qualifying for "prima casa" tax relief, paying an agent commission (often 3% to 5% plus VAT), buying a new-build with 10% VAT, and needing extra notary work for mortgages or complex title histories.
What's the usual total % of fees and taxes over the purchase price in Venice (Italy)?
The usual total percentage of fees and taxes for a typical resale purchase in Venice (Italy) without "prima casa" relief falls between 12% and 18% of the purchase price.
Most standard property transactions in Venice (Italy) fall within a realistic range of 10% to 20%, with the exact percentage depending on whether you buy resale or new-build, whether you use an agent, and how complex your notary work becomes.
Government taxes typically make up the largest portion at 9% to 10% of that total (registration tax or VAT), while professional service fees like notary costs (1% to 2.5%) and agent commissions (3% to 5%) account for the remainder.
By the way, you will find much more detailed data in our property pack covering the real estate market in Venice (Italy).
What costs are always mandatory when buying in Venice (Italy) in 2026?
As of early 2026, the mandatory costs when buying property in Venice (Italy) include purchase taxes (either registration tax or VAT plus fixed cadastral and mortgage taxes), a notary deed (required by Italian law for all property transfers), and land registry formalities handled through the notary.
Optional but highly recommended costs for buyers in Venice (Italy) include an independent lawyer review, a surveyor or geometra inspection to verify building conformity and permits, and flood risk ("acqua alta") assessments with insurance quotes given Venice's unique water exposure.
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What taxes do I pay when buying a property in Venice (Italy) in 2026?
What is the property transfer tax rate in Venice (Italy) in 2026?
As of early 2026, the property transfer tax rate in Venice (Italy) is either 2% of the cadastral value if you qualify for "prima casa" relief or 9% if you do not qualify (with a minimum of €1,000), plus €50 mortgage tax and €50 cadastral tax for most resale purchases.
There are no extra transfer taxes specifically for foreigners buying property in Venice (Italy), but many foreigners end up paying the higher 9% rate simply because they cannot meet the "prima casa" residency requirements.
Buyers pay VAT on residential property purchases in Venice (Italy) when buying from a developer or VAT-registered seller, typically at 10% for standard homes or 22% for luxury categories, with registration, mortgage, and cadastral taxes then fixed at €200 each instead of percentage-based.
Stamp duty in Venice (Italy) mainly applies to lease contracts rather than purchases, calculated at €16 for every four pages or 100 lines per copy when registering a rental agreement under the ordinary tax regime.
Are there tax exemptions or reduced rates for first-time buyers in Venice (Italy)?
The main tax exemption for buyers in Venice (Italy) is the "prima casa" relief, which reduces registration tax from 9% to just 2% of the cadastral value on typical resale purchases.
Buying property through a company in Venice (Italy) changes the tax structure significantly, often limiting access to individual reliefs like "prima casa" and potentially affecting VAT recoverability, so you should budget for tax advisor fees if considering this route.
There is a major tax difference between new-build and resale properties in Venice (Italy): resales typically incur 2% or 9% registration tax, while new-builds from VAT-registered sellers trigger 10% or 22% VAT plus €200 fixed taxes for registration, mortgage, and cadastral fees.
To qualify for "prima casa" relief in Venice (Italy), you must purchase in the Comune where you already reside or commit to transferring your residence within 18 months, and you cannot own other properties bought with the same relief unless you sell them within one year.
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 Venice (Italy) in 2026?
How much does a notary or conveyancing lawyer cost in Venice (Italy) in 2026?
As of early 2026, notary fees including mandatory searches and disbursements in Venice (Italy) typically cost between 1% and 2.5% of the purchase price, so on a €300,000 property you should budget €3,000 to €7,500 (roughly $3,300 to $8,200 or £2,500 to £6,300).
Notary fees in Venice (Italy) are typically charged as a percentage of the property price that decreases for higher-value purchases, though they increase for complex transactions involving mortgages, multiple owners, or title irregularities.
Translation and interpreter services for foreign buyers in Venice (Italy) typically cost between €300 and €1,500 (roughly $330 to $1,650 or £250 to £1,250), depending on whether you need simple document translations, sworn translations, or an interpreter present at the signing.
A tax advisor in Venice (Italy) is not mandatory but highly recommended for foreign buyers, especially those planning rentals or buying through a company, and typically costs €500 to €2,500 (roughly $550 to $2,750 or £420 to £2,100) for a one-off purchase setup.
We have a whole part dedicated to these topics in our our real estate pack about Venice (Italy).
What's the typical real estate agent fee in Venice (Italy) in 2026?
As of early 2026, the typical real estate agent fee in Venice (Italy) ranges from 3% to 4% of the purchase price plus 22% VAT, meaning on a €300,000 property you could pay €11,000 to €14,600 (roughly $12,000 to $16,000 or £9,200 to £12,200) including VAT.
In Venice (Italy), both buyers and sellers often pay agent fees, so as a buyer you should assume you may owe a commission unless your contract explicitly states otherwise.
The realistic low-to-high range for agent fees in Venice (Italy) runs from 2% to 5% plus VAT, with Venice's historic center deals typically clustering in the mid-to-high end of that range due to limited supply and higher property values.
How much do legal checks cost (title, liens, permits) in Venice (Italy)?
Legal checks including enhanced title search, liens verification, and permits review in Venice (Italy) typically cost between €400 and €2,000 (roughly $440 to $2,200 or £335 to £1,670), with an additional €800 to €3,000 or more if you hire a geometra or engineer for building conformity verification.
Property valuation fees in Venice (Italy), usually required if you take out a mortgage, typically range from €300 to €700 (roughly $330 to $770 or £250 to £585).
The most critical legal check you should never skip in Venice (Italy) is the building conformity verification (performed by a geometra), because Venice's older housing stock frequently has discrepancies between actual layouts and registered plans that can block sales or trigger costly regularization.
Buying a property with hidden issues is something we mention in our list of risks and pitfalls people face when buying real estate in Venice (Italy).
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What hidden or surprise costs should I watch for in Venice (Italy) right now?
What are the most common unexpected fees buyers discover in Venice (Italy)?
The most common unexpected fees buyers discover in Venice (Italy) include condominium arrears or upcoming extraordinary works (facade repairs, roof maintenance), "acqua alta" flood mitigation costs (waterproof doors, pumps, raised electrical systems), and heritage constraint delays that make renovations slower and more expensive.
Buyers in Venice (Italy) can inherit unpaid condominium charges or decided-but-not-yet-invoiced extraordinary works, so you should always request written confirmation that all local taxes and building fees are fully paid before completing the purchase.
Scams with fake listings or fake fees do occur in Venice (Italy), and the safest prevention is to pay deposits only through traceable methods, ensure all payments go to named parties in signed documents, and rely on the notary's formal identity verification steps.
Fees usually not disclosed upfront by sellers or agents in Venice (Italy) include condominium extraordinary works that have been voted on but not yet invoiced, technical non-conformities requiring post-purchase regularization, and the full scope of tourism-related compliance costs if you plan short-term rentals.
In our property pack covering the property buying process in Venice (Italy), we go into details so you can avoid these pitfalls.
Are there extra fees if the property has a tenant in Venice (Italy)?
Extra fees when buying a tenanted property in Venice (Italy) may include legal or administrative costs for handling vacancy or contract changes, typically ranging from €500 to €2,000 (roughly $550 to $2,200 or £420 to £1,670) depending on complexity.
When purchasing a tenanted property in Venice (Italy), you inherit the existing lease and all its terms, meaning you become the landlord with obligations to honor the contract duration and rental conditions.
Terminating an existing lease immediately after purchase is generally not possible in Venice (Italy) unless the contract includes a break clause or the tenant agrees, since Italian law strongly protects tenant rights and requires valid legal grounds for eviction.
A sitting tenant in Venice (Italy) typically reduces the property's market value by 10% to 20% and gives you more negotiating power, but it also means you cannot use the property immediately for personal residence or higher-yield short-term rentals.
If you want to optimize your rental strategy, you can read our complete guide on how to buy and rent out in Venice (Italy).
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 Venice (Italy)?
Which closing costs are negotiable in Venice (Italy) right now?
Negotiable closing costs in Venice (Italy) include the real estate agent commission percentage, whether the buyer pays any agent fee at all, and some professional add-ons like the scope of translations or extra due diligence services.
Closing costs fixed by law and not negotiable in Venice (Italy) include all state purchase taxes (registration tax or VAT schemes set by Agenzia delle Entrate) and the requirement to use a notary for the transfer deed.
On negotiable fees in Venice (Italy), buyers can typically achieve a 0.5% to 1% reduction on agent commissions or negotiate fee-splitting arrangements, but success depends heavily on market conditions and how motivated the agent is to close the deal.
Can I ask the seller to cover some closing costs in Venice (Italy)?
The likelihood that a seller in Venice (Italy) will agree to cover buyer closing costs is low, because sellers typically resist paying buyer taxes and prefer to negotiate on price instead.
The closing costs sellers in Venice (Italy) are most commonly willing to cover include their own agent commission (which is standard practice) and occasionally minor administrative fees, but almost never the buyer's purchase taxes.
Sellers in Venice (Italy) are more likely to accept covering some closing costs when the property has been on the market for a long time, when there are multiple issues requiring repair, or in slower market periods when buyers have more leverage.
Is price bargaining common in Venice (Italy) in 2026?
As of early 2026, price bargaining is common and expected in Venice (Italy), with successful buyers typically negotiating 5% to 8% below the asking price on average transactions.
In high-demand Venice neighborhoods like San Marco, Rialto, and Dorsoduro, buyers typically achieve smaller discounts of around 3% to 6%, while more negotiable areas like parts of Mestre, Lido di Venezia, and longer-listed Cannaregio or Castello properties can see discounts of 7% to 10% depending on condition and days on market.
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What monthly, quarterly or annual costs will I pay as an owner in Venice (Italy)?
What's the realistic monthly owner budget in Venice (Italy) right now?
The realistic monthly owner budget in Venice (Italy) for a typical apartment, excluding any mortgage, ranges from €250 to €900 or more (roughly $275 to $990 or £210 to £750), depending on property size, building condition, and condominium services.
The main recurring expense categories that make up this monthly budget in Venice (Italy) include condominium fees, utilities (often higher in older less-efficient buildings), local taxes like IMU and TARI, and a maintenance reserve for humidity, salt damage, and flood resilience work.
The realistic low-to-high range for monthly owner costs in Venice (Italy) is €250 to €400 (roughly $275 to $440) for a small efficient apartment with minimal services, up to €700 to €900 or more (roughly $770 to $990) for larger units in buildings with elevators, porters, or common heating systems.
Condominium fees tend to vary the most in Venice (Italy) because they depend heavily on building age, shared amenities, and whether the building is saving aggressively for major restoration works on facades, roofs, or canal-side foundations.
You can see how this budget affect your gross and rental yields in Venice (Italy) here.
What is the annual property tax amount in Venice (Italy) in 2026?
As of early 2026, the annual property tax (IMU) in Venice (Italy) for non-primary residences typically ranges from €1,000 to €4,000 or more (roughly $1,100 to $4,400 or £835 to £3,350) per year for typical apartments, with rates running around 0.9% to 1.06% of the IMU taxable base.
The realistic low-to-high range for annual property taxes in Venice (Italy) depends on property value and type: smaller apartments might pay €800 to €1,500 (roughly $880 to $1,650) while larger or more valuable properties can reach €3,000 to €5,000 or higher (roughly $3,300 to $5,500).
Property tax in Venice (Italy) is calculated based on cadastral value (not market value), which is typically much lower than what you actually paid, then multiplied by coefficients and the municipal IMU rate set by the Comune di Venezia.
Property owners in Venice (Italy) can benefit from IMU exemptions if the property is their primary residence (abitazione principale) and it is not classified as a luxury category, though most foreign owners do not qualify for this exemption since they do not reside in Italy.
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 Venice (Italy) in 2026?
What tax rate applies to rental income in Venice (Italy) in 2026?
As of early 2026, the rental income tax rate in Venice (Italy) for individual landlords who choose the "cedolare secca" flat tax option is 21% on the gross rent received.
Under the "cedolare secca" regime in Venice (Italy), landlords cannot deduct expenses from rental income because the flat 21% rate replaces all other taxes and deductions, though the ordinary regime allows expense deductions but applies progressive income tax rates.
The realistic effective tax rate after considering your options in Venice (Italy) ranges from 21% under cedolare secca to potentially 23% to 43% under the ordinary progressive regime, depending on your total income and deductible expenses.
Foreign property owners in Venice (Italy) pay the same rental income tax rates as Italian residents, but non-residents must file Italian tax returns and may need to coordinate with tax treaties to avoid double taxation in their home country.
Do I pay tax on short-term rentals in Venice (Italy) in 2026?
As of early 2026, short-term rental income in Venice (Italy) is taxable and you face two layers of obligation: national income tax on the rent (often using the 21% cedolare secca for eligible cases) plus Venice's local tourist tax ("imposta di soggiorno") that you must collect from guests and remit to the Comune.
Short-term rental income in Venice (Italy) is generally taxed under the same cedolare secca rules as long-term rentals, though there are specific conditions that apply when you rent multiple properties or exceed certain thresholds.
If you want to optimize your rental strategy, you can read our complete guide on how to buy and rent out in Venice (Italy).
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If I sell later, what taxes and fees will I pay in Venice (Italy) in 2026?
What's the total cost of selling as a % of price in Venice (Italy) in 2026?
As of early 2026, the total cost of selling property in Venice (Italy) typically ranges from 3% to 7% of the sale price, excluding any capital gains tax that may apply.
The realistic low-to-high range for total selling costs in Venice (Italy) is 3% to 4% if you handle the sale with minimal agent involvement and no technical issues, up to 6% to 7% or more if you pay full agent commission and need to fix conformity problems before closing.
The specific cost categories that make up selling expenses in Venice (Italy) include agent commission (often the largest item), notary or legal preparation costs, technical documentation fees, and potentially early mortgage repayment penalties if applicable.
The single largest contributor to selling expenses in Venice (Italy) is almost always the real estate agent commission, which typically runs 3% to 4% plus VAT of the sale price.
What capital gains tax applies when selling in Venice (Italy) in 2026?
As of early 2026, the capital gains tax rate when selling property in Venice (Italy) can be paid as a 26% substitute tax ("imposta sostitutiva") on the gain, calculated and paid through the notary at the time of sale.
Exemptions to capital gains tax in Venice (Italy) include holding the property for more than five years before selling, using the property as your primary residence for most of the ownership period, or receiving the property through inheritance.
Foreigners selling property in Venice (Italy) pay the same capital gains tax rates as Italian residents, with no additional "foreigner surcharge" applied to the transaction.
Capital gain in Venice (Italy) is calculated as the sale price minus the original purchase price (as documented in the notary deed), with potential adjustments for documented improvement costs and acquisition expenses.
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 Venice (Italy), 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 - L'acquisto di una casa | Italy's official tax authority explaining home purchase taxes. | We used it as the primary source for registration tax rates and VAT scenarios. We cross-checked all buyer tax numbers against this page. |
| Agenzia delle Entrate - Prima Casa | The official rulebook for first-home tax relief eligibility. | We used it to explain when buyers can get reduced taxes. We framed realistic foreigner scenarios based on its requirements. |
| Agenzia delle Entrate - Cedolare Secca | The tax authority's official explanation of flat rental tax. | We used it to state the headline cedolare secca rates. We paired it with Venice tourist tax rules for the full picture. |
| Agenzia delle Entrate - Plusvalenze | Official guidance for capital gains tax on property sales. | We used it to explain the 26% substitute tax option. We built the selling tax section around its exemption logic. |
| Ministero dell'Economia e delle Finanze - IMU | The national finance ministry explaining how IMU works. | We used it to explain IMU rate-setting rules. We avoided unofficial calculators by relying on this source. |
| MEF - Venice IMU Rate Sheet 2025 | The official repository of Venice's municipal IMU rates. | We used it to anchor owner annual costs with Venice-specific data. We based our IMU budget ranges on these published rates. |
| Comune di Venezia - TARI | The city's official explanation of its waste tax. | We used it to explain how TARI is calculated in Venice. We included it in realistic ongoing cost budgets. |
| Comune di Venezia - Imposta di Soggiorno | The city's official portal for tourist tax obligations. | We used it to flag Venice-specific short-term rental costs. We showed how local and national obligations combine. |
| Consiglio Nazionale del Notariato | The national notaries' council publishing consumer guides. | We used it to explain what notaries do and why costs exist. We justified mandatory versus optional due diligence distinctions. |
| Immobiliare.it - Agent Commission | Italy's largest property portal with market guidance. | We used it to estimate typical commission ranges. We confirmed that buyers often pay agent fees in Italy. |
| Immobiliare.it - Venice Market | A major portal with updated Venice market data. | We used it to tailor negotiation advice to Venice zones. We named specific neighborhoods where bargaining power differs. |
| Idealista - Price Discounts Research | A major portal's research on negotiation discounts. | We used it to anchor realistic national negotiation ranges. We then adjusted for Venice using local supply context. |
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