Spain Explained

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:10 am. Smoking in public continues to be a hot topic in most European countries. It seems governments are finding it difficult to work out how far to go/ not to go when it comes to the whole smoking issue. Matters have perhaps been complicated by the increasing […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:10 am. If you see someone drunk and disorderly in Spain, it is likely they’re not Spanish. No doubt reading this there are many examples you can think of to the contrary. However, in my experience, problems with alcohol are much more likely to be enacted by visitors […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:10 am. It’s almost a national institution. The chiringuito, or Spanish beach bar, can really make your holiday that extra bit special. Equipped with young, energetic individuals, music into the night and the cocktails and spirits to match, they are a key feature of most beaches in Spain. […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 05:04 pm. The laws in Spain around extensions, refurbishment and home improvements are strict. All changes you might make to your home need approval from the town hall. Home improvements in Spain fall into two categories: Major works e.g. building an extension, conservatory or swimming pool Minor work […]

Last updated on February 28th, 2020 at 11:36 am. As in other countries, you can expect to be fined in Spain for a number of infractions of the traffic code. Speeding, parking where you shouldn’t, not having the right paper work in the car, all carry traffic fines in Spain – some substantial. An unusual […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:10 am. During March we welcomed people into our offices to answer their questions about tax and legal matters. However, we know that not everyone can make it to Torrevieja or Alicante. That’s why we’ve been running our ‘Tax, tea and travel’ roadshow. We started off by visiting […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:10 am. It remains a strange feature of the expat phenomenon that many of the expats who live in Spain know more about what is happening in the country they’ve left behind than the one they live in. Expat radio shows, access to the home country’s TV stations […]

Last updated on May 9th, 2020 at 04:08 pm. So, here we are in Spring. If you live on the Costa Blanca or have spent much of the past few months out here, you will perhaps feel that winter passed us by this year. Now, we have the promise of all the spring and summer […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 04:30 pm. It’s a very tempting time to buy in Spain. House prices are at a record low and vendors are falling over themselves to sell their property in Spain. It’s not surprising therefore that so many are grasping the opportunity to make their dreams of a home […]

Last updated on October 14th, 2019 at 08:56 am. It’s an important time of the year for residents in Spain. The end of March is the deadline for those who have to present the 720 this year and the 30th June is the deadline for the annual resident tax declaration. We know that many people […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:10 am. Spain is renowned for its collection of unique, rich, varied and perhaps rather bizarre festivals. Las Fallas has to rank high on the list of those internationally acclaimed opportunities to make lots of noise and party. In 2014 Las Fallas took place in Valencia from March […]

Last updated on May 9th, 2020 at 04:10 pm. If you are a resident, living in Spain, how did you approach Spanish paper work: no time like the present – I tackled it straight away and got everything done as soon as I could poco a poco – no rush I just took one piece […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:10 am. Ábaco is in the middle of a roadshow of events. We’ve packed our bags and instead of answering your queries on the phone, by internet or in our offices, we’re coming out to you. So far we have been to Algorfa and our next location is […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 05:07 pm. It is perhaps an unusual combination, but we know that talking tax isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Talking tax and travel in our offices During the month of March we are inviting people into our offices to find out more about resident taxes. To make it […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:10 am. It is rather an unusual combination. Tax, tea and travel aren’t often found together. But there is some logic behind us combining such an odd trio. It’s the run up to the resident tax declaration deadline (June 30th). We are aware that many people living in […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:10 am. The recession has hit the vulnerable hard. Those already on the bread line have few resources to fall back on when times become even more difficult. It can be easy to block out the hardship experienced by some of the people in our community. It’s just […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:10 am. There is perhaps an assumption amongst my generation that buying a piece of freehold, be it land or property, is a good investment. We were encouraged to buy our own home as soon as we could. Mortgages were easily available and it was part of the […]

Last updated on May 9th, 2020 at 04:11 pm. Would you do a good deed if you didn’t anticipate a reward of some kind from it? The concept of the random act of kindness has taken root. In case you haven’t heard of this, there is even a website dedicated to it: http://www.randomactsofkindness.org/ Wikipedia describe […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:10 am. The economic crisis in Spain is hitting the most vulnerable hard. The unemployed, seasonal workers and the low-paid have children. Through periods of hardship, such as we are experiencing in Spain, they suffer too. We can all feel sympathy for those caught up in austerity. We […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:10 am. We are all unique, of course. The reasons why people emigrate to another country are various and can be complicated to unravel. What were the strongest pulls to move to Spain for you? Was it the weather, the lifestyle, the culture? Was it the need to […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:10 am. How valuable is a family holiday?  Time away from the day-to-day grind continues to be a must for many. It represents opportunity to talk to each other without the usual interruptions of work and household routines getting in the way. Two weeks away in the sun […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:10 am. When you use the word ‘certificate’ it usually conjures up images of  celebration, graduation and prize givings. Some of us have studied long and hard to amass a collection of these things. Sometimes wondering what the point was after all! When it comes to the residency […]

Last updated on May 30th, 2025 at 10:13 am. Do you enjoy sudoku? Are you one of those people whose coffee table is piled high with completed, half completed and ready to complete puzzle books? Working with numbers is absorbing; it can also be frustrating at times. When you are locked in battle with a […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 04:30 pm. If you own a property in Spain chances are that your recent electricity bills have given you cause to draw breath. The majority of householders have noticed a steep rise in Spanish electricity prices over the past few years. It isn’t just a case of poorly […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:10 am. It’s the end of the February, half term holiday for most children from the UK. The aeroplanes in the Spanish airports will be full and the journey will be ‘lively’.  Most will be sad to leave Spain. Hopefully they have had a few pleasant days away […]