The acquisition costs for a property are the responsibility of the buyer. In Geneva, these mainly consist of:
› A tax called the registration duty, amounting to 3% (excluding VAT) of the purchase price of the property;
› Fees for registration in the Land Register at 0.21% of the purchase price, capped at CHF 40,000;
› The notary’s decreasing fees calculated based on the purchase price;
› Various other fees, VAT, and disbursements;
Altogether, this amounts to approximately 4% of the property transaction value, decreasing proportionally with higher purchase prices.
The official website of the Geneva Notaries allows you to estimate the exact fees related to the acquisition of a property.
It should be noted that if the sale price is below a certain threshold, the buyer may benefit from CASATAX, which reduces the registration duties and the fees for creating the mortgage certificate. This threshold is reviewed annually and for 2024 is set at CHF 1,359,903. Additional conditions apply: the buyer must be an individual (natural person) and make the purchased property their primary residence. They must also commit to living in it for at least three years within two years following the signing of the sales contract
Excerpt from our guide: Selling Your Home in 42 Questions