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.

Selling an Inherited Property in Tenerife: What You Need to Know

A lot of people who inherit property in Tenerife eventually decide to sell it.

Sometimes the heirs live abroad. Sometimes the family simply prefers to divide the money rather than keep the property. And occasionally nobody really wants the responsibility of maintaining it.

Whatever the reason, selling an inherited property is fairly straightforward once the inheritance itself has been completed.

Can You Sell the Property Straight Away?

Not quite.

Before the property can be sold, the inheritance process must be finalised.

That usually means:

Signing the inheritance deed at the notary
Filing the inheritance tax declaration
Registering the property in the heirs’ names at the Land Registry

Once those steps are done, the property can be placed on the market immediately.

Documents Needed for the Sale

Selling an inherited property requires many of the same documents as a normal property sale.

Typically you’ll need:

The inheritance deed
NIE numbers for all heirs
Updated property deeds
The latest IBI property tax receipt
An Energy Performance Certificate (required for all sales)
Utility details for the property

Your estate agent or lawyer normally helps gather these before marketing begins.

Taxes When Selling an Inherited Property

Selling doesn’t create inheritance tax again, but a few other taxes can apply.

These usually include:

Capital Gains Tax, based on the profit between the inheritance value and the sale price
Plusvalía Municipal, the local tax based on land value increases
3% withholding tax for non-resident sellers, which the buyer pays to the Spanish tax authorities

In many cases, the amounts involved are relatively manageable, especially if the property is sold soon after the inheritance.

When Several Heirs Are Involved

If multiple heirs inherit the property, everyone must agree to the sale.

If one person refuses to sign, the process can stall.

There are legal ways to resolve this, but most families prefer to reach an agreement long before it gets that far.

How Long Does It Take to Sell?

Once the inheritance is complete, the property can be listed straight away.

The time it takes to sell depends on several factors:

Location
Condition of the property
Price
Market demand

In general, properties in southern Tenerife tend to sell faster than those in the north due to stronger international demand.

Should You Renovate Before Selling?

Not always.

But small improvements can make a noticeable difference.

Simple things like:

Clearing out old furniture
Deep cleaning
Painting tired walls
Fixing small maintenance issues

Often help the property present better and attract stronger offers.

For many families, selling an inherited property is simply the easiest way to settle the estate and divide the proceeds.

Once the paperwork is sorted, the rest of the process works very much like any other Tenerife property sale.