Do I have to pay inheritance tax in Tenerife?

Most close relatives receive a 99.9% inheritance tax reduction in Tenerife. This means spouses, children, parents, siblings and grandchildren usually pay almost no tax.

Do I need to travel to Tenerife to complete an inheritance?

No. Most heirs sign a Power of Attorney and the entire process can be completed without travelling to Tenerife.

How long does Tenerife inheritance take?

Most Tenerife inheritance cases take between 1 and 3 months if the death occurred in Spain, or 3 to 6 months if it occurred abroad.

Can I sell an inherited property in Tenerife?

Yes, but only after the inheritance deed has been signed and the property is registered in the heirs' names. All heirs must agree to the sale.

What documents do I need for a Tenerife inheritance?

You need a death certificate, Certificate of Last Wills, the will (if any), passports, NIE numbers, property deeds, and bank information where applicable.

Tenerife Inheritance for Expats With Assets in Multiple Countries

Quite a few expats who own property in Tenerife also have assets somewhere else.

A bank account back home.
A pension.
Maybe another property.

At first glance it sounds complicated… different countries, different laws, different paperwork.

In reality, it’s fairly straightforward once you understand how the system works.

Your Tenerife Property Is Always Handled in Spain

No matter where the person lived, any property located in Tenerife must go through the Spanish inheritance process.

That means:

Signing the inheritance deed before a Spanish notary
Filing the inheritance tax declaration in Spain

Even if the final tax bill is very small… or zero.

The Spanish authorities still expect the process to be completed locally.

Assets in Other Countries Follow Their Own Rules

Anything located outside Spain follows the laws of the country where those assets exist.

So a typical situation might look like this:

UK bank accounts or investments handled through UK probate
Tenerife property handled through the Spanish inheritance process

Two countries. Two legal systems. One estate.

Sometimes heirs may technically pay inheritance tax in both countries, although tax treaties normally prevent the same asset being taxed twice.

Choosing Your National Law

If you live in Spain but are not Spanish, it’s usually sensible to make a Spanish will that states the inheritance law of your home country should apply.

This avoids Spain’s forced heirship rules and makes the process much simpler for international families.

It’s a small piece of planning that can save quite a lot of confusion later on.

Inheriting Assets Abroad While Living in Tenerife

It also works the other way around.

If you live in Tenerife and inherit assets located abroad, you may need to declare those assets in Spain.

This is usually done through Modelo 720, the foreign asset reporting form.

It’s separate from inheritance tax and shouldn’t be ignored.

When More Than One Country Is Involved

Multi-country estates aren’t unusual for expats.

They just involve coordinating two legal systems instead of one.

With the right paperwork and a bit of planning, it’s perfectly manageable.

And taking professional advice early can help avoid unnecessary tax or delays later.