Taxes

If you are looking to sell your property in Panama, one of the first details you should be aware of are the taxes due upon sale. Whether your property is in the name of a Corporation, or your own personal name, you should contemplate 5% of the final sales price in taxes.

In the case of a transfer of shares of a corporation that holds a property, the law dictates that the buyer is to retain 5% of the sales price and take responsibility for the payment of taxes. This generally takes place within 10 working days of the share transfer being finalized.

In the case of a transfer of the property then there are two different taxes to consider. One is a 2% transfer tax, and the other is a 3% capital gains tax. Both of these taxes are calculated based on the registered sales price of the property and they must be paid before the transfer of the property can be finalized in the Public Registry of Panama. In cases where the old capital gains tax calculation (10% of the difference between the registered value and sales price) is less than the new 3% capital gains calculation, it is possible to ask for a reimbursement of the difference. This reimbursement generally takes about 4 or 5 months to complete.

Commissions

The standard real estate commission in Panama is 5% of the sale price. In some cases if the property is remotely located or requires special resources to show, such as island properties, it is common for real estate companies to charge a higher percentage to offset the expenses of showing the property. Commissions are generally paid for by the seller.   

Setting your asking price

When it comes to being competitive in the Panama Real Estate Market the rules are universal. Price yourself competitively with comparable properties. It’s also a good idea to set your price based on a 3rd party property appraisal. There are a number of reputable appraisal companies providing property evaluations that are accepted by most major banks. We recommend: Zubieta y Zubieta or Panamericana de Avaluos. For more information on these two companies, check under About Us and scroll down to Our Team on the Origen Real Estate website. While appraisals are not necessary for all properties, they are a very helpful tool in assessing a realistic market value, and are also vital in cases where the buyer requires bank financing.