The Golden Visa in Spain – Invest and obtain residency

golden visa in spain

The Golden Visa in Spain provides non-EU citizens with an opportunity to obtain residency through investment. Spain introduced the Golden Visa scheme in 2012 in order to encourage entrepreneurship, investment, and internationalism. However, the principal aim of the Golden Visa initiative is to stimulate the Spanish economy. By attracting entrepreneurs and investors to the country, […]

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Retiring to Spain from the UK: How it’s done

Retiring to Spain from UK

What could be better than living out one’s twilight years under the Spanish Sun? It is a dream come true for people who are reaching retirement age. The lifestyle, weather, entertainment and relatively cheaper property make retiring to Spain from the UK a very attractive prospect. However, make sure the process goes as smoothly as […]

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Going green with energy

Solar energy in Spain

You would think with its record for sunny days that Spain would be one of the world leaders in solar power. But in fact, it’s wind power where Spain is leading the way. In this article we introduce you to the ways in which Spain is looking creatively at its energy sources and how you […]

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IBI – the Spanish council tax

Spanish tax forms

More or less every country has a procedure for collecting taxes to pay for the local infrastructure. Every day we are using facilities that need maintaining and replacing. In Spain, the tax that is charged to pay for these is called IBI. Many of the roads that you drive on, the lights that illuminate them, […]

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Taking a tour of Iberian ham

Iberian Ham

Last updated on October 24th, 2022 at 12:28 pm. It’s one of the trademarks of Spain. A large dish of finely sliced ham served at any meal and at any time of year. There are few people could claim to dislike this traditional delicacy but an equally small number are aware of the full language […]

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How long does it take to buy a house in Spain?

How long does it take to buy a house in Spain?

Last updated on November 2nd, 2022 at 05:13 pm. You’ve seen the house of your dreams, made your offer and it’s been accepted. It should all be plain sailing from here? Not necessarily. So much depends upon the owner’s paperwork management and if they’ve kept up with their taxes. So, how long does it take […]

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Investing in rental in Spain – the safe way

Investing in rental

Last updated on October 24th, 2022 at 12:20 pm. With poor interest rates and uncertainty around currencies, people with money to invest can often choose to purchase property to rent in Spain. It can be a good investment that provides you with a return on your capital now and the prospect of a home for […]

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Extension of donation tax reductions

Donation in Spain

When thinking ahead to what will happen to your property in the future you might have considered donating it to your family and those you care about rather than passing it on through inheritance. There are a number of advantages to taking this route and we have supported many people who chose to manage the […]

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Completing the adventure – getting married in Spain

Wedding - Ábaco

It’s always good to know that you’ve helped people achieve their dreams. At Ábaco we are lucky to often have the opportunity to provide the legal knowledge and assistance to do just that. Usually this is when it comes to assisting people in buying their Spanish home. But on 25th February we were delighted to […]

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We’re getting married at the notary’s!

Wedding

We all enjoy a love story with a happy ending and even more so when you’ve been a part of the proceedings leading up to it.  So, we’re delighted to be able to share a very special journey with a very special outcome – a Costa Blanca wedding that Ábaco had the privilege to be part […]

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Changes to property transfer tax – New reference value in Spain

New reference value in Spain

When property is transferred from one person to another in Spain there is a tax to pay. From January 2022, inheritance, donation and transfer tax, will all be affected by the new ‘reference value’ in Spain, in Spanish it is called Valor de Referencia. If you have property in Spain or are considering buying somewhere, […]

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Quirónsalud opens a Medical Centre in Gran Alacant

Centro_Médico_Gran_Alacant_Quirónsalud_Cre

This is the fifth Quirónsalud centre in the province of Alicante. The company has more than 40,000 professionals in over 125 healthcare centres.   This past July, Quirónsalud inaugurated a new medical centre in Gran Alacant, Santa Pola. With this new opening, Quirónsalud continues to grow in the province of Alicante, this being the fifth […]

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Do you need legal representation? Watch out for the fakes!

Legal Advice in Spain

During the height of the pandemic and post Brexit it was to be expected that there would be a lull in the housing market. Now, moving forward, the market is recovering and we are seeing an increasing number of homes being sold and on the market. Unfortunately, with this increase in activity comes an increase […]

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Paying council tax in Spain

Paying council tax in Spain

Spain, like most other countries, has a system whereby property owners contribute to the maintenance of local infrastructure. Here, the tax is called IBI. In this article we explain what IBI is, when you pay it and why it’s important. IBI stands for Impuesto sobre Bienes Inmuebles or, literally translated, Real Estate tax. It’s a […]

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Think twice before changing your home insurance

Home Insurance

You have a tried and trusted home insurer and then you go into the bank one day and they point out how much you can save with their own insurance. What should you do? Think twice. We give our advice when it comes to taking up offers you think you can’t refuse. We’ve all felt […]

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It’s time to donate

Donation in Spain

In the near future it is expected that the Spanish Government will introduce a ‘fiscal harmonisation’ policy. The purpose of this policy is to eliminate the different practices between regions. However, it could mean that there will be an increase in inheritance and donation tax for some people. Currently, inheritance and donation tax legislation has […]

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Getting your Spanish property back on track

For non-resident Spanish homeowners, the prospect of returning to Spain is tantalisingly close. It’s what everyone’s been waiting for and a few weeks in the sun, enjoying their Spanish property is long overdue. In this article we consider how you might make sure that your return goes to plan. We can’t wait to see our […]

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Inheritance tax and stepchildren – protecting your family

Inheritance tax and stepchildren

Many people live in families with stepchildren. They have perhaps grown up with a stepparent who they have come to look on as they would a natural mother or father. So what happens when a stepparent dies? There are aspects of Spanish inheritance tax related to stepchildren that you need to be aware of. When […]

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Donate in Spain now and reduce tax

Donate in Spain

There are inheritance and donation tax changes on the horizon that could mean that some of the benefits that people are currently enjoying might disappear or at least be reduced. What action can you take to preserve your assets for those you love? As you may know, the different regions of Spain have relative autonomy […]

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Legal advice in Spain, let the professionals help you

Let the professionals help you

Changing ownership of property in Spain is an important process that must be done correctly. Make sure to have legal advice in Spain, our professional lawyers and legal experts are here to help you. There are a number of reasons why you might want to transfer the ownership of a property into someone else’s name. […]

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Getting married in Spain

Getting Married in Spain

Many people choose to live together rather than get married. In many countries there is no difference to your rights whether you are married or cohabiting. However, in some Spanish regions there is little to no recognition of cohabiting status. Is it time to consider getting married in Spain? Many couples choose to continue a […]

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Transferring a property to your spouse in Spain

Transferring a property to your spouse in Spain

Many people are unaware that there are significant differences in the way that the inheritance process works when transferring a property to your spouse in Spain. In this article we outline what you should know and how you might prepare. For many people, owning a property in Spain is a dream come true. The purchase […]

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Understanding the Spanish inheritance process

Spanish Inheritance Process

Talking about the Spanish inheritance process isn’t easy. Many people will try to avoid the discussion and, it’s understandable. However, avoiding it isn’t the answer. If you have property in Spain at some point in the future it will be transferred either through donation or inheritance. It’s most important that you take the initiative, explore […]

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Inheritance tax in Spain – advice for inheritors

Inheritance tax in Spain

Last updated on September 28th, 2021 at 12:53 pm. The news that you are due to inherit a property in Spain may be a surprise or you might have known for a while. What you may be unaware of, however, is how to proceed to ensure that you really are the legal owner and how […]

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Improving your home – what you need to know

Home Improvements

Congratulations on owning a property in Spain! You might now have some ideas for how you would like to improve it. There are lots of options, but you must also be aware of what the legal implications are. In this article we explain what licences you must have and the implications.   It’s natural that […]

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