The recipient of the gift pays Spanish inheritance and gift tax. It is a state tax devolved to the autonomous communities, and each one sets its own reliefs, reductions and rates.
The difference between them is considerable. Several communities relieve 99% or 100% of the tax on gifts between parents, children and spouses, so the cost is close to nothing. Others do not offer relief but apply their own rates, well below the state scale. Some condition the benefit on value limits or specific requirements.
One requirement recurs almost everywhere: the gift must be formalised in a public deed. Without it the relief is lost, or the general scale applies, which is considerably more expensive. Gifts of money usually also require the source of the funds to be stated in the deed.
With no regional relief, the state scale runs from 7.65% to 34% depending on the value gifted, the family relationship and the recipient's existing wealth.
Check the page for your autonomous community to see which regime applies, or write to us with your case.