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Practical manual for Income Tax 2023.

Extinction of usufruct and consolidation of ownership

USUFRUCT ON REAL ESTATE IRPF . Table IV
Extinction of usufruct Effect Usufructuary Owner's knot

Upon death of the usufructuary if not successive (lifetime usufruct)(1)

Automatic consolidation of the domain in the owner node

Article 33.3.b) of the Personal Income Tax Law : It is estimated that there is no capital gain or loss in lucrative transfers due to the death of the taxpayer. Therefore, it is not taxed in IRPF

In the extinction of the usufruct and subsequent consolidation of the domain, the IRPF that corresponds according to the title of constitution of the usufruct will be required.

  • For onerous transmission: will pay taxes on the ITP . The bare owner is required to make a settlement for the value of the usufruct that enters his/her assets, which is the result of applying to the new value that the property may have at the time of consolidation of ownership, the percentage that corresponded to the usufruct at the time of dismemberment, for which he/she has not paid the tax. However, if the tax rate has changed since that time, the new rate in force at the time of consolidation applies.
  • By lucrative transmission: will be taxed for the ISD applying the average effective tax rate corresponding to the dismemberment of the domain, and based on the value that the usufruct had at that time (at the time of the dismemberment of the domain).

It does not pay taxes in the IRPF due to consolidation . The owner who consolidates the domain will obtain real estate capital returns if he rents or transfers the property or imputes real estate income (unless it becomes his habitual residence)

Due to expiration of the term for which it was established if it is for a term (temporary usufruct)

Automatic consolidation of the domain in the owner node

A capital loss is generated in the IRPF for the difference between the transfer value, which will be zero, and the acquisition value ( See acquisition value in the previous table of transfer of usufruct )
By resignation of the usufructuary

Consolidation of the domain in the owner node

A capital gain or loss is generated in the IRPF for the difference between the transfer value and the acquisition value (See transfer and acquisition value in the transfer of usufruct)

The renunciation of a usufruct already accepted, even if it is pure and simple, will be considered for tax purposes as a donation from the usufructuary to the bare owner.

Drawdown coefficients ( DT 9 of the Personal Income Tax Law ): They will not apply, to the extent that it would not be a transfer of an asset, but rather a waiver of a right, regardless of whether it implies the consolidation of full ownership in the bare owner.

When the usufruct is extinguished for reasons other than the completion of the term or the death of the usufructuary, the purchaser (the bare owner) must pay taxes on the highest value resulting from the liquidations that proceed for:
  • The usufructuary's waiver (legal transaction by virtue of which the usufruct is extinguished) is considered a donation for tax purposes: You will pay taxes on the ISD for the concept of donation, or
  • The pending amount for the dismemberment of the domain (according to the title by which the usufruct was established), in some cases of inter vivos origin ( ITP ) and in others of mortis causa origin ( ISD , Succession concept).

It does not pay taxes in the IRPF due to consolidation . The owner who consolidates the domain will obtain real estate capital returns if he rents or transfers the property or imputes real estate income (unless it becomes his habitual residence)

Due to the reunion of the usufruct and the bare ownership in a single person for different reasons

Consolidation of ownership in the usufructuary or in the bare owner derived from a legal transaction (by donation or by onerous transfer)

  • If the usufructuary transfers his right to the bare owner: You will obtain in the IRPF a capital gain or loss for the difference between the transfer value and the acquisition value (See transfer and acquisition value in the transfer of usufruct)
  • If the usufructuary acquires the bare ownership and consolidates the domain: The tax corresponding to the legal transaction by virtue of which the bare ownership is acquired will be required.

    • For onerous transmission: the consolidation will be taxed at ITP .
    • By lucrative transmission: the consolidation will be taxed at ISD for the concept of donation.

      In this case does not pay taxes in the IRPF due to consolidation but will obtain capital gains from real estate if he rents or transfers the property or imputes real estate income (unless it becomes his habitual residence)

  • If the bare owner transfers his bare ownership to a 3rd party (the usufructuary): You will obtain in the IRPF a capital gain or loss for the difference between the transfer value and the acquisition value of the bare ownership.
  • If the bare owner acquires the usufruct and consolidates the ownership. The tax corresponding to the legal transaction by virtue of which the bare ownership was acquired will be required.

    • For onerous transmission: the consolidation will be taxed by the ITP
    • By lucrative transmission: the consolidation will be taxed at ISD . The consolidation of ownership in the bare ownership will be taxed by the highest of the settlements: between the one pending due to the dismemberment of the domain and the one corresponding to the legal transaction by virtue of which the usufruct is extinguished.

      In this case, the bare owner who acquires the usufruct and consolidates the ownership does not pay taxes in the IRPF for the consolidation but will obtain real estate capital gains if he rents or transfers the property or imputes real estate income (unless it becomes his habitual residence)

Note to the table:

(1) The extinction of the usufruct due to the death of the usufructuary does not entail a new acquisition by the person holding the property, but rather it is the legal regime of this real right of enjoyment or use that establishes that the death of the usufructuary extinguishes it (article 513.1, Civil Code), with the owner recovering the enjoyment rights of which he had been deprived in its constitution. (Back)

This table is for informational purposes only.