Spain Explained

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. It’s everywhere. Or so it seems at times. Graffiti is on walls, trains, bins and fences. Anywhere there is a spare square meter of space to record names and messages. Although some of this graffiti is pretty banal there are examples of street-art that have artistic […]

Last updated on March 19th, 2020 at 03:11 pm. Since the summer of 2014 there has been a lot of coverage in the media regarding the EU ruling affecting Spanish inheritance and donation tax. The existing tax law in Spain was considered to be discriminatory against non-residents. Therefore, the European court established that Spain had […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. The internet has transformed our lives. The way in which most people communicate, research, work and relax has changed immeasurably and it won’t stop there. We cannot imagine what the next twenty years will hold in terms of this revolution. And it is a revolution. The […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 05:01 pm. How far should we go when it comes to keeping the peace? There is a fine line between freedom of speech and racism, between the right to protest and lawlessness. At what point does a peaceful demonstration become insupportable? Spain’s new Public Security Law or Citizen’s […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 04:18 pm. You have made the decision that you want to buy a house in Spain. You are not on your own. Many people, living all over the world, make this decision every year. In fact, the number of foreigners buying in Spain has gradually been increasing as […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 04:19 pm. One of the main concerns that people have when buying property in Spain is ‘how can we make sure that this Spanish property is problem-free?’. Of course, this anxiety isn’t exclusive to Spain. Buying a house is a very big commitment and no matter how carefully […]

Last updated on May 9th, 2020 at 03:58 pm. The new tax legislation in Spain has been debated for a while. Originally proposed in June 2014 it has now been passed and will come into force from the income year 2015. The new law brings with it implications for both residents and non-residents. In most […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. It’s a sad fact; in most European countries currently work is in short supply. The unemployment figures fluctuate but the trend is still down and we are seeing generally a better-qualified workforce earning less, if they’re earning at all. Some employers are exploiting the situation with […]

Last updated on April 8th, 2020 at 11:49 am. Driving in Spain can be a pleasure. Once you put the city centre behind you, you can find long stretches of motorway without a traffic cone or tailback in sight. Spanish motorways seem to be extraordinarily free from road works and are generally enjoyable to drive […]

Last updated on May 9th, 2020 at 04:01 pm. We’ve recently been reading letters in some well-known free papers from people who really have got their facts wrong. Nothing new there may be, but we feel that some of the myths around complementary tax, if you believe them, could cost you a lot of money. […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. Do you love the sales? Most people seem to fall into one of two groups. Those who love rooting through piles of clothes to find a bargain and those who will avoid the shops until it’s all over. The Spanish word for ‘sale’ is ‘rebajas’ and […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. Spain is a country of contrasts. Only a few hours from where they’re basking in the sun on the beaches they’re skiing down the slopes in three layers of clothes and woolly mittens. One of the amazing things about Spain is the variation in its climate […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. Do you like celebrating Christmas at home? Is your idea of the ideal Christmas one that involves your home hearth, slippers and a good helping of turkey? Or do your prefer to slip away and let someone else do all the donkey work? Most people fall […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 05:01 pm. You’ve probably heard of ‘money laundering’ but not thought you would personally be affected. However, concerns about money laundering activity in Spain means that people are suddenly finding it cropping up in quite ordinary circumstances. A number of non-residents and residents have recently been asked for […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. Love them or hate them, the out-of-town commercial centre is here to stay.  Their presence in Spain has gradually increased over the past ten years. They do have their advantages. You can leave your car in one place whilst you browse amongst all the major high […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. We often take them for granted, but if you have ever lived in an area that’s short of local Spanish taxis you will recognise just what an underestimated resource they can be. In Spain, obtaining a licence to run an official taxi is expensive and it […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. National borders have a lot to answer for.  Countries continue to battle over where the lines are drawn and who gets to fly the flag. But who should decide what belongs to whom? The issue has been carefully documented in both Britain and Spain recently. With […]

Last updated on March 19th, 2020 at 03:11 pm. Inheritance tax for non-residents has traditionally been much higher in Spain than for residents.  This has been drawn to the attention of the European courts and Spain has been told to change its practices. No doubt, in due course they will. In the meantime inheritance tax […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. When you’re travelling in a foreign country, having an accident might be one of the last things on your mind. However, the risk is probably greater than in your own country. Driving a hire car on holiday, the majority of people have probably not studied the […]

Last updated on April 8th, 2020 at 11:48 am. It might not always seem like it when you’re on the roads in Spain, but there is a very comprehensive Spanish highway code. The Código de Tráfico y Seguridad Vial was last modified on 22nd May 2014 (download here). It consists of 941 pages and 385 […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 05:02 pm. The word ‘google’ is part of our day-to-day vocabulary. In the Oxford dictionary paperback version it is defined as ‘search for information about someone or something on the Internet, especially with the Google search engine.’ The last part of that definition is perhaps particularly interesting. There […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 04:20 pm. You’ve bought your home in Spain. Congratulations! Hopefully this will be the start of many happy years here. Whether you have bought a Spanish property to enjoy at holiday time, to live in or to rent out as an investment, you’ve taken a big step. Now, […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. What percentage of the population do you think are immigrants in Spain? Out of every 100 people in Spain how many do you think are over 65? These are two of the questions on Ipsos MORI’s new global survey, ‘The Perils of Perception’. The survey highlights […]

Last updated on June 3rd, 2020 at 07:22 pm. Just how far should you go to sell your property in Spain? We all know it’s not a sellers’ market at the moment but the lengths that some people are going to is, quite extraordinary. Getting a good estate agent, making sure the house is in […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:09 am. There’s a phrase that states that you are never too old to learn. Some people may disagree with this. Certainly if you’ve tried to learn Spanish at an older age you’ve probably recognised that it doesn’t fall into your lap easily. But what about developing an […]