What buying really costs

The asking price is not what you pay. Registration duties, notary fees, disbursements and VAT come on top, and the gap between regions often exceeds €6,000 on the same property. Here is the calculation, item by item.

The property

Agreed price, excluding furniture.
The region sets the registration duties.

The financing

The reduced rate applies only to the home you will live in, if you own no other.
In Brussels the allowance is increased by €25,000 if the property reaches the required energy performance.
Zero if you buy outright. The credit deed has its own costs.

💶 What you pay on top of the price

Purchase deed costs
Duties + notary + VAT
Total costs
Sale and credit deeds
Share of the price
Costs relative to the price
Budget required
Price + all costs

📊 How your budget splits

Purchase deed, in detail

Registration duties
Rate applied
Allowance deducted
Taxable base
Notary fees
Administrative costs and disbursements
VAT 21% on fees and costs
Deed costs subtotal

The method, and its limits

What is sourced

Registration duties and allowances come from the regional administrations. Fees follow scale J of the Royal Decree of 16 December 1950, in its 9 February 2026 consolidation published by the Royal Federation of Belgian Notaries. Our calculation reproduces that source's four worked examples to the cent. Administrative costs and non-itemisable disbursements are those of article 2, § 2 of the same decree.

What the calculation does not cover

Credit deed costs, estimated and announced as such. A purchase under the VAT regime, that is a new build, where there are no registration duties on the building but 21% VAT. Particular regional reductions, taking over an existing loan, bank arrangement fees, and any agency commission where the buyer bears it.

⚖️

For the exact figure, ask your notary for a statement: only they can produce it, and they do so free of charge before signing.

Further reading