Double tax treaties are agreements made between two states to determine the rights of nationals living in the respective countries. For instance, a double tax treaty determines the taxation regime for people who have assets located in one country but are resident in the other. In the case of the UK-Spain double tax treaty, the agreement outlines the rights of UK nationals with assets or living in Spain and vice versa.
In the case of the UK and Spain, it is possible for people to be classified as legally resident in both countries due to each nation’s domestic tax regimes. To overcome this complication, the UK-Spain double tax treaty was drawn up. Here, we explain what you need to know about the agreement.
2013 UK-Spain double tax treaty
In 2013, the UK and Spain renewed their double taxation convention. First created in 1976, this agreement between the two nations stipulates how individuals should be taxed in the event of the two following scenarios:
- If the individual is classified as a tax resident in both countries under their domestic tax regime; or
- If they are living in one country but have income derived from assets in the other.
This is necessary because, in theory, you should not have to pay tax twice on the same income. Therefore, if you fall into either of the two categories stated here, you are able to offset one tax declaration through deductions and allowances to make sure you do not pay tax twice.
A closer look and an example
Generally speaking, you can only be tax resident in one country. However, it is certainly not outside the realm of possibility that you fulfil the domestic criteria set out by two different countries. In this scenario, your tax obligations will be defined by a double tax treaty. These will depend on where you have your permanent home, your centre of vital interests, or habitual abode. If this is unclear, it will come down to your nationality.
In both Spain and the UK, if you spend more than 183 days per year in that country, you are considered a resident. Remember, these days do not need to be consecutive. If you are resident in Spain, it is your responsibility to declare your global income to the Spanish tax authority, or Hacienda.
However, there are other possible scenarios. We will set out an example; let’s say you have a holiday apartment in Spain that you rent out while you are not there. In Spain, you are obliged to declare income on Spanish rentals to the tax authority, no matter where you are resident. But what if you reside in the UK?
This is where the tax treaty comes into play. As the property is situated in Spain you will be legally required to present a declaration to the Hacienda, however as a UK Resident you will also have to declare this income there, the tax you have already paid to the Spanish government will be offset against your bill in the United Kingdom.
Types of income affected by the double taxation convention
The UK-Spain double tax treaty is a 24-page document that specifies which types of income qualify for deductions or relief under the auspice of double tax. These include:
- Individual income tax.
- Corporation tax.
- Income tax for non-residents.
- Capital gains tax.
- Local tax on income and capital.
How the double taxation agreement affects you will depend on your individual circumstances. Moreover, tax rates and reliefs are subject to change. Therefore, we strongly advise seeking professional advice on how to make sure you are tax compliant in both the UK and Spain.
Experts in fiscal matters
Ábaco Advisers have been assisting our clients with fiscal matters in Spain since 1999. With a detailed, up-to-date knowledge of the taxation regime, we help you navigate your tax obligations in Spain based on your individual circumstances. For a free consultation, without obligation, complete this form. One of our team will be in touch at a time that is convenient for you.
58 comments
26 September, 2020 4:45 pm
We paid the SUMA, in full, on our villa in Quesada last year on 10/09/2019 but completed the sale of our property on 20/08/2020.
Does this mean we do not pay the SUMA anymore?
28 September, 2020 8:14 am
Hi Jennifer,
The legal responsibility to pay the SUMA bill regarding the IBI is of the legal owner of the property on January 1st 2020. If you did not agree on something different at the signing of the selling contract or the sale at the notary, you will have to pay the IBI for the year 2020.
Please do not hesitate to contact us should you have any further queries.
With kind regards,
Ábaco Advisers
24 December, 2020 9:38 am
Hi. My wife is a resident in the UK but sold a property in Spain in January this year.
Does she have to pay the CGT in Spain or the UK?
Thanks
28 December, 2020 11:00 am
Hi Rob,
As the property is situated in Spain under the double Taxation treaty it should have been declared in Spain within three months of te sale in a form 210H, there would have been 3% deducted in the sale which is discounted from any Capital Gains Tax this may mean if a loss has been made that the 3% would be refunded and if the 3% was not sufficint then any extra should have been paid. The sale will also have to be declared in the United Kingdom and nay Tax paid here is deducted from any liability here.
With kind regards,
Ábaco Adviser
10 January, 2021 4:56 pm
I bought a house in Asturias 2005 and have a NIE card which says residente, this expired 2011. My health card expired 2012, am I still classed as a resident. My husband who is German and myself want to become residents of Spain and also the UK. We pay our house mortgage in Spain through the bank plus all our utility bills through the bank. I have a UK state pension and we are owners of a UK based travel company but do not have an income in Spain (at the moment) We´ve looked through the various articles on your site which are clear and helpful but >I guess what we need to know is how does it relate to being a German /UK couple. My husband and myself pay tax in the UK?
14 January, 2021 1:12 pm
Hi Geraldine,
Thank you for your query. The NIE is a tax identification number which is a life long number but it does not signify residency in Spain. The document format for an NIE is an A4 certificate.
You will not still be classed as a resident if you have not renewed your padron registration at your local town hall in the last five years.
If you wish to become residents in Spain you will have to meet the new criteria for non EU citizens as although your husband has German nationality he is a UK resident as you state that you are both tax residents of the UK.
The criteria to become resident in Spain as no EU citizens is for you to have private health cover at a comprehensive level and prove a sufficient income or have substantial savings.
Please do not hesitate to contact us should you have any further queries.
With kind regards,
Ábaco Advisers
3 February, 2021 3:30 pm
Dear All,
Is it correct, that as a UK tax resident you can’t deduct any expenses from the income of your rental property since Brexit?
You could you let me know as well how much you charge for the quarterly tax computation filing for poor rental income.
Looking forward to hearing from you
4 February, 2021 2:42 pm
Thank you for contacting us.
That is correct as of after Brexit you can’t deduct any expenses from the income of your rental property.
Our quarterly tax declaration for rental income is 50 € per quarter.
With kind regards,
Ábaco Advisers
16 March, 2021 10:43 pm
My husband (Irish) and I (Spanish) are UK pensioners and we spend 7 months in Spain, where we are residents and done the S1 forms under the Withdrawal Agreement. We also spend about 4 months at our home in England and the rest travelling. We are due to do our tax forms in Spain next year. All our assets are in the UK, where we spent our working life. I read there is Residency and Tax Residency. The guidance booklet of the Dual Tax Treaty is very complicated to me. My question is, can we have our assets taxed in the Uk instead of Spain? We would prefer to be UK tax payer. We have property in both countries but we do not receive any income from Spain. Your advice would be appreciated. Angeles
18 March, 2021 10:28 am
Hi Angeles,
As a resident in Spain you are obligated to pay Tax here irrespective of where the income comes from, and can not choose. Under the terms of the double taxation treaty you will need to apply to the United Kingdom on form SI 1976 Number 1919 with a Certificate of Fiscal Residency in agreement with the Double Taxation Treaty from Spain. They will then stop deducting Tax from you and give a NT coding, there are some Pension which have to remain Taxable there but are declared here as exempt.
Should you have any further queries please do not hesitate to contact us at info@abacoadvisers.com or by phone at 0034 966 703 750.
Kind regards,
Ábaco Advisers
2 April, 2021 1:51 pm
Please please how does one get Agencia Tributaria to accept a correctly completed form 210 to reclaim witholding rax on Dividends ….AT keep rejecting the 210 so cannot produce a pdf …every error code is different and they have denied a MAP complaint because we cannot submit a 210 …its their website that is the issue but they refuse point blank to acceot that
6 April, 2021 10:55 am
Hi Frances,
Unfortunately we do not deal with these matters directly, we highly recommend you contact a specialized firm who can assist you in the matter.
With kind regards,
Ábaco Advisers
28 April, 2021 6:41 pm
I bought a property in Valencia in January 2020. Due to the Covid situation however i was only actually in Spain until June 2020
My sole income is that of a UK government Police pension which is taxed at source by HMRC.
I hope /intend to return to Spain to take up residency in June 2021
What is the situation with my income tax? I have previously been told that as it is a Government pension taxed at source it will remain that way. However could you please provide a definitive answer
29 April, 2021 8:34 am
Hi Darren,
In 2014 a new Double Taxation Treaty between the United Kingdom and Spain came into force which will effect how the Pensions received from Crown, Civil Service, Fire and Police Force are treated as of the 2014 Tax Declaration. Under Article 22 section B the Text now reads
“(B) Where in accordance with any provision of the Convention income derived or capital owned by a resident of Spain is exempt from tax in Spain, Spain may nevertheless, in calculating the amount of tax on the remaining income (or capital) of such resident, take into account the exempted income or capital.”
Where as in the past this pension was not included in the calculation of your tax band previously, since 2014 it has to be included however if you have no other income and were not in Spain during 2020 for the required 183 days then you would not have to declare as a Resident rather as a Non Resident.
Please do not hesitate to contact us should you have any further queries.
With kind regards,
Ábaco Advisers
25 June, 2021 1:35 pm
Hello.
I don’t know if you can advise me on a tax problem i have incurred.
I moved to Spain permanently 3 years ago and have since, received a work pension in December 2020.
I had the option to take 25% of it tax free, which i did.
I did have the option not to take the 25% and just have a larger monthly pension , which would have left me under the tax bracket.
A major financial problem arose when i had to declare my income in Spain.
If you live here all the time ( over 183 days per year, , you have to declare your income to the Spanish tax authorities.
Also i am officially retired, over 65.
On doing this in the last week, my lawyer stated i have to pay 24% tax on my 25% tax free earning from the work pension, even though it is free in the UK.
I now have a bill, which i have to pay, of over 9,500 euros.
I would have been under the
I haven’t seen anything regarding this in any financial sections of the newspapers.
I can’t get around it anyway, because if the Spanish find out anything is hidden, you can be fined 10’s of 1000’s of euros.
It might be worth mentioning and warning any other people who are thinking of doing what i did about the above.
Regards
Barry O’Donnell
25 June, 2021 2:20 pm
Hi Barry,
Although under British regulations you can obtain a certain amount of a Lump Sum payment free of Tax the same conditions do not apply here and you would therefore be Taxable on the full amount received, as you account has done unfortunately.
With kind regards,
Ábaco Advisers
10 August, 2021 3:23 pm
I work for a UK company (PAYE) but wish to live in Spain (Balearics). My wife is a Spanish resident already and we own houses in both the UK and Spain. I wish to continue working for my employer and am likely to ‘physically’ work in BOTH countries over a year, but more in Spain.
I would like to understand if the DTT will help me.
19 August, 2021 8:45 am
Hi Peter,
In this situation the Double Taxation Treaty would mean the period that you actually work in the UK would be declared here and the Tax paid on this part of the income deducted under the terms of the treaty and period in Spain full declare here and request a refund form the UK for this period, however it is very possible under the statutory Residence Test in the UK they would not consider you to be a non resident even if you spend more time here then there so it is very important to contact HMRC and complete the statutory Residence Test before making any decisions which could lead to falling into paying Double Tax.
Hope this information can be useful.
With kind regards,
Ábaco Advisers
2 September, 2021 1:34 pm
In the uk we have a Capital Gains Annual Exemption of £12.3k each.
When we sell our house in Spain do we get the same annual exemption if Spain have a double tax agreement with the uk?
Thanks
7 September, 2021 11:44 am
Hi Bob,
The agreement to avoid double payment of taxes, the agreement determines in which country taxes are paid or in case they are paid in both, the tax paid in the other can be deducted, but each country has its own internal regulations.
In Spain there is only a “personal allowance” which is 5,550 € and if you are over 65 it rises to 6,700 € this applies to all your income plus, in your case the profit determined by the sale of the property, there is no separate exemption for property sales as in the UK.
But there is a possibility of applying a total exemption from the profit when you sell the home in Spain, which has been your usual home for at least the last three years and at the time of sale you are over 65 years old.
Hope this information is iseful.
For more information contact us at info@abacoadvisers.com
With kind regards,
Ábaco Advisers
30 September, 2021 3:44 pm
My partner worked in Spain over lockdown on-line at our house in Andalucia, Spain for a UK organisation, paying UK tax, PAYE. No income was sourced in Spain.
As follows:
2020 July and August then September to December 31st. 145 days in 2020
2021 January 1st to May 2nd 122 days in 2021.
His employer is saying that the 183 days in a calendar year that operates in Spain does not apply under the taxation Treaty as in a 12 month rolling period it was exceeded. They are using the periods July 2020 to June 2021 I can see no mention of this in the treaty. Please can you clarify if tax should be filed in Spain ? If they are correct, then where does the next 12 month rolling period start and end ? And does the 12month calendar rule in Spain never apply ? Thank you.
1 October, 2021 3:24 pm
Hi Leon,
The Tax year in Spain is January to December so the days are 183 to be considered to be a Tax Resident here during this period.
However the issue may not be with Tax Residency but the period allowed to be in Spain after BREXIT which does work on a rolling period and not a calendar year so this issue comes under the guidelines for visits to the Schengen area. More information can be obtained from the Foregin Office on both the Spanish and British Web sites.
With kind regards,
Ábaco Advisers
8 October, 2021 8:25 am
Hello,
we have a property in Spain. We are British and non resident. We rent the property in Spain in the summer months and declare the income and expenses on our British tax forms. Usually we do not make a profit and hence usually do not pay tax. On rare years we have made a small profit and paid tax in the UK. So, we are declaring the furnished rental property in the UK and not in Spain.
We pay the local taxes but do not pay any taxes in Spain on the understanding that we are declaring the income (or loss) in the UK.
I am worried that I should be declaring something in Spain having read through your web pages but I’m not clear what or how.
Is this correct? I would appreciate your advise
Best Regards
SA
8 October, 2021 11:51 pm
Hi Stuart,
You should be paying both the non-resident income tax yearly in Spain before December 31st of each year and you should also declare quarterly in Spain and rentals you may have had.
Should you need any assistance in this matter please do not hesitate to contact us at info@abacoadvisers.com or by phone at 0034 966 703 750.
With kind regards,
Ábaco Advisers
13 October, 2021 3:45 pm
If I am tax resident in Spain do I have to pay CGT on the sale of my principal home in the UK.
Many thanks Gary
14 October, 2021 7:37 am
Hi Gary,
As you are now a Resident in Spain your main residence will be here therefore Capital Gain Tax will be due on the property in the UK now considered to be a second home.
With kind regards,
Ábaco Advisers
27 October, 2021 1:33 pm
hi I have a property in Spain but am a UK resident and tax payer. I understand now any rental income is taxed gross of costs which means incurring losses on rentals. So can I just declare the Spanish income in the UK and pay tax in the UK and not in Spain under the double tax treaty?
28 October, 2021 9:02 pm
Hi Steven,
Under the terms of the Double Taxation Treaty the property as located in Spain must pay all Taxes here, you will also need to declare the Income in the United Kingdom where the Tax paid here is deducted from your liability there. You can not just declare in the United Kingdom. The Tax now is 24% on the gross income received with no deductions as Britain is no longer part of the European Union.
With kind regards,
Ábaco Advisers
26 December, 2021 8:37 pm
I have been resident in Spain since 2019 and pay my taxes here. My partner and I are retired and our income is solely from UK pensions – we have no assets in the UK, or any other source of income there.
I am continuing to send an annual tax return on line to HMRC (perhaps unnecessarily) to ‘keep my nose clean’. However, since my pensions are not now taxed at source, the bottom line of my tax return says that I owe tax to HMRC. The sum due appears to be capped by a limit of “20% of non-disregarded income”. As I have stated my residency on the form (and have submitted evidence in the past), I expect the tax return to show NIL due. Could it be that there is a box which I have failed to tick, or do I have to specifically request relief in respect of whatever amount shows up on the bottom line?
28 December, 2021 9:16 am
Hi Kenneth,
In order to stop paying Tax in the UK you need to complete the Application for relief at source from UK Income Tax and claim for repayment of UK Income Tax form DT Spain Individual which is returned to UK with a Certificate of Fiscal Residency under the Double Taxation Treaty with the UK “Residencia Fiscal en España Convenio”
After this is completed you would normally not have to complete a Tax Declaration unless you had income under the double Taxation Treaty which still has to be declared in UK.
With kind regards,
Ábaco Advisers
28 December, 2021 8:49 pm
Thank you for your reply. My partner has a “public pension” from a local authority in the UK, which is not taxed in Spain, and therefore we assume that this has to be declared in the UK.
However, the tax return form doesn’t appear to have a place to declare such income separately from the state pension or other private pensions, neither of which are taxable in the UK.
How should he declare this income on his tax return without being liable for tax on the rest of his pension income?
4 January, 2022 10:03 am
Hi Kenneth,
The Public Pension from the Local Authority is not Taxable here in Spain, however it should be shown on the Tax Declaration as exempt income which does have an affect on the Tax paid on their Taxable income.
In 2014 a new Double Taxation Treaty between the United Kingdom and Spain came into force which will affect how the Pensions received from Crown, Civil Service, Fire and Police Force are treated as of the 2014 Tax Declaration. Under Article 22 section B the Text now reads:
“(B) Where in accordance with any provision of the Convention income derived or capital owned by a resident of Spain is exempt from tax in Spain, Spain may nevertheless, in calculating the amount of tax on the remaining income (or capital) of such resident, take into account the exempted income or capital.”
With kind regards,
Ábaco Advisers
8 January, 2022 1:55 pm
My wife (Swedish citizen) and I (UK citizen) bought a house in Spain in October 2021 to live in permanently. She got residency almost immediately, mine as an EU citizen dependent, has just come through. We only have my UK occupational pension to live off, which is taxed in the UK. Do I still have to pay tax on this income in Spain?Also, despite registering for the Padrón, and paying the 2% tax on our house purchase at the town hall, we have had no request for any sort of council/community tax bills to be paid. Should we chase this up or will we receive a bill automatically as we are registered at this address?
10 January, 2022 11:32 am
Hi Colin,
As the property was purchased at the end of 2021 when you came here to live for the year 2021 you will pay non resident Tax for the days you owned the property between October and the 31st December this will be due this year. As of 2022 you will be a Resident and will have to pay Tax based on your world wide income, you will also have to complete a process to Stop paying Tax in the UK.
Please do not hesitate to contact us should you have any further queries.
With kind regards,
Ábaco Advisers
17 February, 2022 5:18 pm
Hello. I would value your advice. We have always been resident in the UK and sold our holiday home in Spain in July 2021. 3% CGT was retained. However, additional CGT is due. but was not paid at the time. We were expecting a demand from the Spanish tax authorities but have heard nothing. The solicitor/fiscal representative that handled the sale for us will no longer respond to our emails. We are concerned about the implications of owing this tax. Please can you advise us. Many thanks, kind regards.
18 February, 2022 8:58 am
Hi Ian,
Once the property has been sold the seller should present a Tax declaration for the sale on form 210H within three months of the sale this is the Capital Gains Declaration, where the 3% already deposited by the purchaser is shown and deducted from any Tax liable or in the case of a sale with a loss the application for the refund is made or on a Gain the extra Tax is paid.
Please note that the Tax Office do not automatically send a request for payment, you are obligated to complete the declaration.
If the Tax is not paid then the Tax Office can take up to 4 years to make a request for this Tax, and for Non Residents they do use the system of collaboration between Tax Offices in other Countries to collect the funds on their behalf along with caosts and fines attached.
Hope this information has been useful for you.
With kind regards,
Ábaco Advisers
13 April, 2022 10:09 pm
Hi,
my question is as follow, If I have a rented property in the UK but reside in Spain, where Do I have to pay my tax, another question is, If I have a property in the UK and reside in Spain and If I sell a property abroad, do I have to pay taxes if I transfer the funds to the UK .
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Kind regards,
Jose
19 April, 2022 7:40 am
Hi,
In both cases (rental and sale) and under the double Taxation treaty as the property is situated in the UK you must pay Tax there however as a resident you have to pay Tax on your world wide income and Capital Gains here as well, however any Tax paid in the UK to HMRC is deducted from any liability here in your declaration.
With best regards,
Ábaco Advisers
27 May, 2022 3:03 pm
Hi there, my husband and I both live in Spain as residents, most of the year we live off of my husband’s state pension only. But 3-4 months of the year he goes back to work for his old boss to get a bit extra to pay bills with. He doesn’t pay tax on this as he doesn’t earn over the taxable amount. Do we have to pay tax here?
30 May, 2022 7:41 am
Hi Karen,
In Spain you pay Tax based on your worldwide income therefore the sum earned in the UK will be Taxable here in Spain as you are Residents.
With kind regards,
Ábaco Advisers
1 June, 2022 9:50 am
I became aware recently that this residency tax could affect me as I intend to live as a resident in Spain whilst possibly running a business in the UK. I am pre-pension age too so I need to be clear on how all of these issues may affect the pension I receive, if I can claim early and what my tax obligations will be once my business is up and running.
The information here is very helpful but it would be even more helpful to speak with an expert.
1 June, 2022 3:11 pm
Hi,
Should you wish to book an appointment with our tax department please feel free to contact us at info@abacoadvisers.com and we will be happy to assist you.
With kind regards,
Ábaco Advisers
10 October, 2022 3:50 pm
Hi,
I have recently created a UK Ltd company (50% shareholding with me as a UK resident and 50% shareholding with my business partner who is a Spanish resident) which will own 100% shares of a Spanish SL subsidiary company (which owns two operating restaurants in Fuengirola). We have done this to future proof ourselves for if/when we expand the restaurants into the UK but as things stand the only trading will be via the restaurants in Spain. We will move any profits to the parent company in the UK as and when we want to withdraw as dividends.
Am I correct in assuming that the tax situation is straight forward due to the double tax treaty and that since all taxes will be declared and paid in Spain via the SL company, there will be no tax due in the UK, until we withdraw dividends? – Any information you could provided on this would be much appreciated.
10 October, 2022 5:47 pm
Thank you for contacting us.
We would recommend have a local tax advisor more familiarized in this type of works you are planning on.
With kind regards,
Ábaco Advisers
23 January, 2023 12:10 am
Hello! I hope someone can advise re this matter;
I work from home and pay taxes in the UK, but, as I am residing in Spain, I also pay the difference in income tax here as well, benefiting from double tax treaty. So my question is this;
Would I be able to apply for mortgages from Spanish providers and be considered a tax-resident? or does the double tax treaty affect mortgage applications?
23 January, 2023 9:17 am
Hi,
This will depend on the bank and how they actually see your situation. If you can apply for a certificado de residencia fiscal to prove you are paying your taxes in Spain most likely the bank will see you as resident in Spain.
With kind regards,
Ábaco Advisers
25 January, 2023 1:15 pm
Hello,
I am belgian but live 4 years in london and now living in SPAIN for a year already.
I opened a limited company based in London and I am the only director but I live in Spain.
As far as I know I have to pay corporate tax in the UK. No tax on salary since I am not carrying any work in the Uk.
My question is do I have to pay tax in spain regarding my salary, company and If I pay myself a divident.
25 January, 2023 5:10 pm
The Company only pays Tax in the Uk as it is situated there, however any personal income or dividends that you receive from the Comapny is Taxable here in Spain.
With kind regards,
Ábaco Advisers
14 April, 2023 6:00 pm
I understand that when selling a house in Spain you need to pay a Plusvalia tax as well as Capital Gains tax.
Can you tell me if Plusvalia tax can be treated like Spanish Capital Gains tax and set against any UK Capital Gain as per the double taxation agreement in place, or is it an expense?
I have looked everywhere for an explanation and have been unable to find any guidance on this tax.
Thanking you in advance of your reply.
Best Wishes
Tim
24 April, 2023 2:53 pm
It will depend of your home country regulations, but in most cases as per our understanding it will be treated as an expense in the sale.
With kind regards,
Ábaco Advisers
29 April, 2023 5:04 pm
My partner and I are looking at retirement in Spain I have two rental flats in the U.K.
would I have to pay tax on the income in Spain and the U.K. .
2 May, 2023 10:40 am
Hi Lorna,
If you are a Tax resident here you pay Tax on your Worldwide income including rental received in another Country however in agreement with the Double Taxation treaty any Tax you pay in the UK on the same income is deducted from any liability here.
With kind regards,
Ábaco Advisers
4 May, 2023 5:36 pm
Hi,
my wife and I going through the divorce. She is living in Spain the last 7 years the house in London by her name and she has residencia and fully lives there.
She also has property by her name in Spain. She want to sell the house. Does she have to pay tax her or in Spain and how we start the process of paying GAIN CAPITAL TAX if it will be in Spain
Any help. Please
5 May, 2023 10:26 am
Hi Allan,
It is not clear if the property to be sold is in Spain or England by your comments.
If the house is sold in England then she has to declare the sale there and pay Capital Gains Tax, if due, then in her resident Tax declaration in Spain under the terms of the double Taxation Treaty she also has to declare the sale here and pay Capital Gains Tax however any Tax paid in the United Kingdom is deducted from any liability here.
Should it be the property here as a resident here she would only have to declare the Capital Gains in Spain.
With kind regards,
Ábaco Advisers
15 May, 2023 3:07 pm
I have a TIE residency card and spend more than 183 days per annum in Spain. I automatically assumed I would pay Tax on my world wide income to the Spanish Tax authorities and make some sort of claim with the UK under the DTT but after further scrutiny and advice, I was advised that the 183 day rule is not necessarily the only deciding factor in determining Tax Residency. As all my income is generated in the UK, my main home ( Not Rented out when Im in Spain ) , my business , my family, my centre of vital interests etc are all in the UK the statutory Residence Test therefore suggests I should continue to pay Tax in the UK. This I have continued to do and as I am paying Tax in the UK I have continued to pay Annual non resident Tax on my property in Spain and leave my Bank Account as a non resident account.
Is the advice I have received correct in your expert opinion
16 May, 2023 7:40 am
Hi William,
This is a complex issue as you have a TIE card and spend more than 183 days in Spain legally here you are a Tax Resident in Spain and should therefore complete an Income Tax Declaration here based on your Worldwide Income. However this situation seem to come under a more complex situation. If in fact you are actually still residing and working in the UK and have only requested the TIE to be able to go around the 90 day rule then in theory you should not be a resident here cancel the TIE and abide by the 90 day rule in order to avoid the double Taxation trap. Should you continue to pay non resident Taxes here then you may come under inspection and you would have to justify that you are a Tax Resident in the UK should this not be accepted by Spain there is international arbitration that will judge where you should be paying Taxes.
Hope this is of assisstance.
With kind regards,
Ábaco Advisers
13 May, 2024 12:07 pm
We are permanent residents in Spain (Spanish wife, English husband with permanent status under the WA), and pay taxes as tax residents in Spain on income from UK property rental and other investments, as well as employment in Spain. This year, our jointly held (qualifying) endowment policy matured in the UK, and HMRC have confirmed that no chargeable event occurred, so is therefore tax free in the UK. I believe we may still be required to pay tax on gains here in Spain, but don’t know how this is calculated (we can’t find any information online so far.) Is a qualifying endowment maturity taxable here, and how is the “gain” calculated for tax purposes?
26 June, 2024 4:41 pm
Good afternoon,
This is a notably complicated case as there is no direct equivalent of endowment policies here in Spain. This of course if we were to interpret the policy as a type of life insurance that doubles as an investment vehicle paying out a lump sum during your lifetime when it matures.
The closest equivalent would be a type of bond or directly an investment portfolio.
In this case for the Spanish income taxes the calcaultion would be based upon capital gains using the scaling rates of 19-28% depending on the overall “gain” that the policy has generated. A possible complication that may arrise is if, instead of a direct investment into the policy, you made monthly, quarterly or annually contributions to the policy as with a normal life insurance policy.
If this were to be the case the company with whom the policy was held will need to provide a statement showing the overall yeilds that have accrued during its lifetime. These are arranged via standard mathematical equations for cases such as this.
This would then provide the equivalent of a “purchase or aquisition” value to contrast against the value at maturity.
Regards,
Ábaco Advisers
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