What and how much Is transfer tax?
When looking for a new home, you’ll often see the abbreviation “k.k.” (kosten koper) next to the asking price on real estate websites like Funda. This stands for “buyer’s costs.”
It means that the buyer has to cover additional costs on top of the purchase price of the property.
Some of these costs are mandatory, while others are additional expenses that unfortunately cannot be included in your mortgage. However, a portion of these costs is tax-deductible.
What does “Kosten Koper” entail?
Kosten koper includes expenses such as transfer tax, notary fees, building inspection costs, appraisal fees, real estate agent fees, and the advisory and mediation fees of your mortgage advisor. These costs must be added to the purchase price of your future home.
Unfortunately, you cannot include these costs in your mortgage and will need to pay them out of pocket.
The total amount of kosten koper varies depending on the property and situation, but you should generally budget for approximately 4% to 5% of the purchase price. Since this is a significant expense, it’s important to have a clear understanding of these costs before signing the purchase agreement.
Difference between “Kosten Koper” (k.k.) and “Vrij op naam” (v.o.n.)
You’ll usually encounter kosten koper (k.k.) when buying an existing home.
A newly built home is typically purchased vrij op naam (v.o.n.).
The biggest difference—and advantage—compared to kosten koper is that with v.o.n., you do not have to pay transfer tax (2% of the purchase price).
The property doesn’t need to be transferred from a previous owner to you. However, if you’re buying an existing home, you’ll need to pay transfer tax.
Below, we’ll explain what this entails.
Transfer tax
When buying an existing home, you typically need to pay transfer tax.
For example, if you’re purchasing a home in which you plan to live for an extended period, the transfer tax is 2% of the purchase price of the property.
In all other cases, the transfer tax is 10.4% of the property’s value. You pay the transfer tax to the notary, who will handle everything in the purchase contract for you.
However, there are some conditions and exceptions where you don’t have to pay this tax.
First-time Buyers Exemption: If you’re a first-time buyer under the age of 35, you don’t have to pay transfer tax in 2024 if the purchase price of the home is under €510,000 (this threshold will increase to €525,000 in 2025). This can save you a considerable amount!
Previous Purchase Without Exemption: If you’ve bought a home before but never used this exemption, you might still qualify as long as you meet the conditions regarding age and purchase price.
Joint Purchase: If you’re buying a house with someone and only one of you is under 35, the transfer tax will be calculated proportionally—only the older partner will pay transfer tax on their share.
In all cases, the property must be your primary residence.
You can easily reach them by email at info@nobelhypotheken.nl or by calling or messaging 06-54770122.
We are here to help with personalized advice and to guide you through every step of the process.
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