ITBI and notary costs when buying a property in João Pessoa

The ITBI rate in João Pessoa is 3% of the assessed value, with a temporary 30% discount in 2026.

Anyone buying a property in João Pessoa must pay the Real Estate Transfer Tax (ITBI), a municipal tax levied on the transfer of real estate for consideration between living persons. The standard rate in the municipality is 3% of the property's assessed value, and payment is made through the João Pessoa City Hall Taxpayer Portal before the deed is registered at the Real Estate Registry Office.

In 2026, Mayor Cícero Lucena signed a provisional measure granting a temporary 30% discount on ITBI, which reduced the effective rate to about 2.1% during the measure's validity period, from February 10 to March 13, 2026, with the possibility of extension for up to 30 days. There has also been, since 2025, a supplementary bill providing for a 90% discount on ITBI for properties within the Tourism Industrial District, linked to developments in the Cabo Branco Tourist Hub, valid until December 31, 2028.

In addition to ITBI, the purchase involves notary fees for the public deed (when required) and for registering the title, charged according to a schedule set by the Paraíba Judicial Inspectorate (Corregedoria de Justiça) and varying according to the property's value. Before closing a deal, it is worth calculating the total cost — ITBI plus fees — and confirming directly with the City Hall and the local notary office whether any discount in effect on the transaction date still applies, since provisional measures such as the 2026 one have a set expiration date.