Spain Explained

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 05:16 pm. When buying in Spain your aim is probably to spend more time in the Spanish sun. The last thing you want is to spend time tussling with Spanish litigation in the form of a lawsuit instead. Unfortunately, sometimes discrepancies exist and there can be differences in […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 04:47 pm. Unfortunately, these days, this is not an uncommon problem. What happens when the Spanish builder goes bankrupt can vary considerably depending upon whether the builder has arranged a bank guarantee or contracted an insurance policy to protect the stage payments already made by the purchaser. The […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 05:14 pm. There has been no shortage of publicity around the difficulties with illegal houses in Spain. There have been many sad cases that have hit the headlines of Spanish homes being demolished and with them, people’s dreams. There are stories behind each one of these cases. Properties […]

Last updated on June 3rd, 2020 at 07:24 pm. Where do you start when it comes to selling your property in Spain? Perhaps the first and foremost necessity in the current climate is a buyer. If you do manage to find someone who wants to buy your property at a price that is reasonable to […]

Last updated on June 3rd, 2020 at 07:23 pm. With the cost of buying and selling, plus the fact that buyers are like gold dust, more and more people are taking the option of making adaptations to their property to suite their changing needs. However, at some point there will need to be a sale […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 05:17 pm. What happens when your dream home in Spain turns out to be not quite as perfect as you thought at first? What can you do when you spot defects in your new Spanish property? The good news is that there are laws to protect you from […]

Last updated on March 19th, 2020 at 10:31 am. There are many ways in which you can be informed if you have broken the law, missed a payment or done something else that breaks a country’s rules and regulations. Recorded delivery, phone calls, perhaps even an official visit to your home are all ways in […]

Once of the riskiest aspects of driving in Spain is negotiating Spanish roundabouts. It’s perhaps particularly confusing when the roundabout is on a dual carriageway. What baffles many used to driving in other countries is that cars often travel all the way around roundabouts in Spain in the outside lane.      On a busy day […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:11 am. Burst water pipes  are a winter-hazard in northern Europe.  But surely we shouldn’t be troubled with the prospect of burst pipes in the heat and humidity of Spain?  Don’t be too sure. This is an example of how water leaks can take the unsuspecting by surprise, […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:11 am. The main message is to prevent your credit cards being stolen in Spain in the first place. Take precautions, be vigilant and apply some common sense measures and it is unlikely that you will have your property stolen. However, theft can be a theft problem in […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:11 am. It can be difficult for the newly arrived in Spain to get to grips with the number of different laws and what can seem to be a never-ending battle with bureaucracy here. The arrangements for many aspects of life are perhaps complicated by the fact that […]

Last updated on March 19th, 2020 at 10:33 am. What must I pay? You must pay for each property: Local Taxes (Council Tax, IBI) Government Taxes (Income Tax) Local Taxes These taxes are paid directly to your Town Hall or via the SUMA offices. They are a form of Council Tax. Government taxes These taxes […]

Last updated on March 19th, 2020 at 10:32 am. Who might receive a letter? Since the end of 2011, the Spanish Tax Authority has sent out thousands of letters to resident and non-resident property owners. They have targeted those people who have not made a tax declaration during  2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. The […]

Last updated on March 19th, 2020 at 03:19 pm. Why is it important? We recommend to all our clients that at some point they make a will in Spain.  A will made in your home country can cover all your world wide belongings, including any you have in Spain. However, if you don’t have a […]

Last updated on March 19th, 2020 at 03:19 pm. Inheritance tax applies in Spain In some countries, inheritance tax only applies when there is a very large estate. However, this is not the case in Spain. Spanish inheritance tax applies in the majority of cases and the amount of tax to pay varies enormously depending […]

Last updated on March 19th, 2020 at 03:18 pm. How much might the inheritance tax be? Every case is unique. However, below are some case study examples to give you an idea of how much inheritance tax there might be to pay. The differences in the amount to pay are linked to your status as […]

Last updated on March 19th, 2020 at 10:35 am. Spanish Council Tax is applicable to resident and non-resident property owners. Calculated on the rateable value of the property (valor catastral), Council Tax is applicable to resident and non-resident property owners alike. It is a municipal tax payable to the local Town Hall (in a number […]

Last updated on March 19th, 2020 at 10:34 am. I am resident in Spain. What should I be paying? If you are resident in Spain you have to pay two types of taxes each year: Local Taxes (Council Tax, IBI) These taxes are paid directly to your Town Hall or via the SUMA offices. Government […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 05:17 pm. A Power of Attorney in Spain, called a ‘Poder Notarial’ in Spanish, is a document by which you name a trusted person to represent you in certain transactions. For example, you might have someone to represent you to enable: purchase of a property sale of a […]

Last updated on June 5th, 2020 at 06:31 pm. With the current sluggishness in the market, people are turning to property auctions in Spain as one means of moving their property more quickly. Equally, for those looking for a bargain they can guarantee that those placing their house for sale are keen to sell. Of […]

Last updated on June 3rd, 2020 at 07:24 pm. Selling  property in Spain – documents needed Where do you start when it comes to selling your property in Spain? Perhaps the first and foremost necessity in the current climate is a buyer. If you do manage to find someone who wants to buy your property at a […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 05:18 pm. A Power of Attorney in Spain, called a ‘Poder Notarial’ in Spanish, is a document by which you name a trusted person to represent you in certain transactions. For example, you might have someone to represent you to enable: purchase of a property sale of a […]

Last updated on March 19th, 2020 at 03:19 pm. In a way, this title is a contradiction. In some respects the Spanish inheritance process can never be made easy. The difficulties around losing someone you love or care about are much more than any inheritance service can even begin to solve. At Ábaco we do […]