IBI: check, pay and set direct debit at your ayuntamiento

What you need to have to hand

1. Cl@ve PIN/Permanente or certificado digital/DNIe. Without this you won't do much online.
2. Referencia catastral of the property (20 characters). It appears on receipts, deeds or on Catastro.
3. Receipt number/barcode if you're going to pay without identifying yourself.
4. IBAN and account holder name if you want to domiciliate.
5. DNI/NIE of the holder (and of the represented person if you act for someone else).

Documentation

• DNI/NIE of the holder or representative.
• Referencia catastral or receipt number of the IBI.
• IBAN for domiciliation and to sign the orden SEPA.
• Escritura/nota simple if you are asking for bonificación or correcting titularidad.
• Signed authorisation and DNI if you act for third parties.

Step by step

1. Get or confirm the referencia catastral at the Sede del Catastro: https://www.sedecatastro.gob.es (menu "Consulta de datos catastrales"). If you don't know the ref., search by address.
2. Enter the sede of your ayuntamiento/collection agency and go to Tributos > IBI. Examples: Madrid (https://sede.madrid.es), Barcelona (https://ajuntament.barcelona.cat/tributs/es), València (https://sede.valencia.es).
3. Identify with Cl@ve or certificado and open your Carpeta del Contribuyente. Locate the property by referencia or address.
4. Check the recibo: you'll see the amount, period, and whether it's en voluntaria or en ejecutiva. Download the recibo or generate a carta de pago if available.
5. Pay online: card, online banking or Bizum (depending on the gateway). Save the PDF proof. If they give you a carta de pago, use it to pay at your bank or via the gateway.
6. Domiciliate if you want to forget about it: go to Domiciliación de tributos periódicos, add IBAN, select IBI and the property, sign the orden SEPA and save the receipt. It usually takes effect on the next charge.
7. Out of time or can't pay in one go: in Aplazamientos/Fraccionamientos, request one. Fill in amounts and terms and attach IBAN. You'll get a resolution or a payment calendar.

Tips that save you time

• Fiscal calendar: check it beforehand. If you're caught short, split the payment or at least generate the carta de pago to avoid the 20% surcharge.
• Domiciliation: in many municipalities there is a bonificación (2–5%). Not universal, but often worth it.
• Multiple properties (flat, garage, storage): each can have its own recibo. Check them all in the carpeta.
• Browser: many local sedes are old. Chrome and pop‑ups allowed. If the gateway fails, switch browser.
• Save: always download the PDF of the payment or domiciliation. It saves you if something goes wrong.

Common mistakes that can mess up the process

1. Confusing referencia catastral with receipt number: you won't be able to pay via quick access and you waste time.
2. Paying after voluntary without checking surcharges: you may eat a 20% surcharge plus interest by mistake.
3. Domiciliating too late: you expect it to charge immediately but it usually goes into the next period. Check the effective date.
4. Going to the counter without cita previa: expect weeks of wait during the campaign. Book cita previa for in-person visits.
5. Not checking available bonificaciones (familia numerosa, VPO): you lose money by not applying in time.