Czechia's Zero Transfer Tax: what Buying in Prague Really Costs

Most European countries charge buyers a transfer tax of several per cent. Czechia does not. In 2020 the country abolished its 4% real estate acquisition tax — retroactively, for transfers registered from December 2019 — and it has not come back. That makes Czechia one of the cheapest places in Europe to complete a purchase, though not necessarily one of the cheapest places to buy.

What you still pay

• Land registry fee. Registering the new owner in the cadastre (katastr nemovitostí) costs CZK 2,000 per application — about €80.
• Lawyer or notary. For the purchase contract and verified signatures; fees are agreed individually.
• Escrow. The purchase price is usually held by a lawyer, notary or bank until the registry records the new owner. Expect a fee for this service.
• Agent. Commissions are common. Ask upfront who pays, and whether VAT is added.

Foreign buyers can own residential property in Czechia without restrictions.

What our catalogue shows

On 6 October 2026, the European Cribs catalogue held 966 Czech homes for sale: 946 in Prague and 20 in Brno. The median asking price was €387,000 in Prague and €253,000 in Brno. Only 16 Czech listings asked less than €120,000. These are asking prices from our catalogue, not official market statistics.

What the missing tax is worth

Purchase at €387,000	Transfer tax
Czechia	€0 (registry fee about €80)
Portugal, non-resident buyer (7.5% IMT)	€29,025 plus 0.8% stamp duty
Germany, Berlin (6% Grunderwerbsteuer)	€23,220

The saving is real, but it is paid out at the closing table, not on the price tag. Prague is the more expensive of the two Czech cities in our data, and the asking price is set by the market, not by the tax system.

Taxes after the purchase

• Annual property tax (daň z nemovitých věcí) is low by European standards. It depends on size and municipality and was raised in 2024.
• Selling later. For individuals, a gain on property acquired from 2021 onwards is generally exempt from income tax only after ten years of ownership; earlier sales can be taxed unless another exemption applies.
• Rental income from Czech property is taxable in Czechia, including for non-residents.

Bottom line

Czechia rewards buyers at completion, not at the viewing. When you compare markets, compare the total cost of the purchase — price plus taxes and fees — not just the asking price.

Browse current homes for sale in Czechia.

Catalogue figures are asking prices of homes listed in the European Cribs catalogue on 6 October 2026, not official market statistics. Tax rules as checked on 6 October 2026; they change and depend on your personal situation. This article is general information, not legal, tax or investment advice — confirm the details with a local lawyer before you buy. Cover photo: Minku Kang / Pexels.