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V1270-26 25 May 2026 · SG de Impuestos sobre la Renta de las Personas Físicas Criterion in force
IRPF · arras

Rents received due to buyer's breach are treated as general income

The DGT clarifies how deposits from rural property sales are taxed if the buyer breaches the contract or if the sale is completed. In case of breach, deposits are considered patrimonial gains and included in the general tax base. If the sale proceeds, the deposits form part of the transfer price.

The question raised

Question posed: A request is made to determine the taxation of earnest money received both in the event that the contract is not executed due to reasons attributable to the buyer and in the event that the sale is successfully concluded for the purposes of Personal Income Tax.

The DGT's ruling

If the seller retains the earnest money due to the buyer's breach of contract, such amount constitutes a capital gain that must be included in the general taxable base. Said gain shall be attributed to the tax period in which the seller may proceed with its enforcement according to the contract. If the sale is finalized, the earnest money forms part of the transfer price, and the capital gain or loss shall be attributed to the tax year of the transfer of the real estate.

Apply this to a real case

What is published here, applied to a company or a specific case. The first meeting is free.

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