Spain Explained

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 05:11 pm. Preference shares are shares in a company which give their holders an entitlement to a fixed dividend but do not usually carry voting rights. They have made the headlines recently because of the number of clients complaining about the way in which they have been mis-sold. […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 05:10 pm. Anti-Fraud Laws continue to make the Spanish news.  One of the most recently implemented measures is the cap on cash payments. At first glance, this can seem to be straight forward legislation that should not be hard to implement: Residents are no longer allowed to use […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 05:11 pm. The banks have received a significant amount of bad press. This unwelcome attention is not confined to Spain. It perhaps comes as no surprise that banks are being held to account for some of the unprofessional ways they have tried to part customers from their money […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:11 am. The subject of blanket trips in Spain seems to attract very different opinions. For some people these ‘free’ trips with a hidden agenda are something to be avoided. For others they are a good way of spending a day at someone else’s expense. In case you […]

The number of shopping malls and retail parks is spiralling in Spain. There are a number of advantages to using these sites. Perhaps most attractive for many is the fact that they are usually open throughout the day rather than sticking to the traditional Spanish opening times of 9.00 until 2.00pm and 5.00pm until late. […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:11 am. Ideally, every driver should have to have an induction into the main rules operating in their new terrain. In practice this doesn’t happen and foreign drivers find themselves dropped in at the deep end in a system that can be quite different from the one they’re […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:11 am. When asked about the cost of living in Spain, most people will reply that in most respects it is cheaper than they are used to in their home country. The cost of food, drinks, even taxes, can be significantly lower. However, one cost that seems to […]

Last updated on March 19th, 2020 at 03:18 pm. The Spanish economic crisis is starting to cut deep. Families who have managed to come together and cope for months are beginning to find that they have used up the few reserves that they had. Spanish society has rallied well and families, predominantly parents and grandparents, have […]

Last updated on March 19th, 2020 at 10:10 am. We’re often asked the question ‘am I a resident in Spain?’ If you live in Spain for more than 183 days (and they need not be consecutive) in any one year then yes, you are. That bit’s simple. But how do you prove it? Most people […]

Last updated on March 19th, 2020 at 10:08 am. Having a second home in another country is a wonderful luxury. However, it also requires taking care of. There are bills to pay, taxes to settle and the usual maintenance jobs – all with the added difficulty of being in another country and perhaps in another […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:11 am. What does Christmas mean to you? Is it a time to reflect and remember, a time to look forward and plan or a time – just to get over? The yuletide season has a habit of bringing out the best and worst in people. Families squashed […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 05:11 pm. As more and more people have found it difficult to sell their home but still need to move, the option to rent out their Spanish home has become the best alternative. However, it is not without its difficulties. Landlords come in all shapes and sizes and […]

Last updated on March 19th, 2020 at 10:12 am. Who does it apply to? Non-residents with a house in Spain who have not presented their imputed income tax. Every non-resident must pay two annual property taxes: Council tax (IBI) Income tax (La Renta) payable even if you don’t rent out your property Are you at […]

Last updated on April 3rd, 2020 at 11:28 am. You can buy with confidence in Spain. However, as in every country, you need to take good advice and follow the correct procedures. We recommend that you: Take advice from the start to avoid any pitfalls Use only recommended and recognised estate agents Use only established […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 04:43 pm. It’s true that there have been some problems in the past. However, by taking simple precautions you can ensure that any risks are reduced to a minimum. Millions of people have bought property safely in Spain and are now enjoying their dream homes. Our advice to […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:11 am. There’s one story that keeps cropping up every so often in the free paper. The story goes like this. Someone receives a water bill for an extortionate amount of money and hasn’t got a clue why. Burst pipes are a common problem in Spain. It’s a […]

Last updated on May 20th, 2020 at 03:41 pm. People can think that all they need is a green civil residency certificate to prove they are resident in Spain. In this article we explain that having a certificate of fiscal residency  can be much more useful. We’re often asked the question ‘am I a resident […]

There's nothing quite like having the opportunity to meet up with our clients in a more informal environment. Ábaco occasionally arrange open day events which provide the chance for clients and non-clients to discover more about aspects of living in and visiting Spain. "Life's a Beach" when you're a pensioner in Spain Our recent "Life's […]

We are delighted to visit your clubs and associations and provide advice about all aspects of legal and fiscal issues. We have presented seminars, spoken at dinners, and attended many different types of celebratory events in order to help you keep informed. Coming up We are currently preparing our next seminar programme. More information will […]

Last updated on March 19th, 2020 at 10:16 am. The new co-payment system The cost of prescriptions in Spain is increasing. The new system is being implemented in two stages: Stage 1 From 1st July anyone given a prescription in Spain should notice that it will include the percentage of the cost that they have […]

Last updated on March 19th, 2020 at 10:27 am. The tax year in Spain coincides with the calendar year, beginning on January 1st and ending on December 31st. The main dates you need to be aware of are: Who When What Residents June 30th 2015 Resident annual tax declarations (for the year 2014) Non-residents December […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:11 am. Being able to communicate well is very important, no matter what your job. However, if you work in an international organization like Ábaco Advisers it’s not only important to communicate in your native language but in other languages too. We’re quite a multi-lingual lot! Between us […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:11 am. Difficulties with communication is a major issue for many foreigners in Spain. It is a wonderful country but you can feel confused by legislation, documentation and procedures. People often don’t know who to ask or trust. We know that. This is one reason why we are […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:11 am. You might not expect a legal and tax form to have much to do with children. Generally we don’t – except for looking after our own! However, we do recognise that not all children across the world are as privileged as our own offspring. ‘Save the […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:11 am. Just because you live in Spain does not mean that you don’t need a holiday! That’s one of the reasons why the Spanish Imserso holiday programme has been so successful. Imserso is subsidised by the Spanish Government and enables resident pensioners in Spain to access affordable […]