Last updated on May 9th, 2020 at 04:20 pm. Last year around this time, there was great consternation amongst many foreigners living in Spain. The requirement to complete the 720 asset declaration form really shook the community. In case you are blissfully unaware, the 720 is a form on which foreigners living in Spain must […]

Last updated on March 17th, 2020 at 05:40 pm. The 3% retention is the amount that is kept back by the Spanish Tax Authority after the sale of a property by a non-resident. It is used to pay the Spanish Capital Gains Tax and ensures that funds remain available. Ábaco sometimes receive notifications from the […]

Last updated on May 9th, 2020 at 04:23 pm. Do you know what you’re getting for Christmas? Is it a present you’ve already asked for, some money, or will it be a surprise? People seem to fall into two groups when it comes to Christmas surprises. Those who seek out their presents, feel the package […]

Last updated on March 17th, 2020 at 05:45 pm. I used to love the quiz and games shows of the seventies and eighties. The Generation Game, The Price is Right, Call My Bluff and Blankety Blank were some of my favourites. They were all games you could at least try and join in with, unlike […]

Last updated on May 9th, 2020 at 04:28 pm. What attracted you to the property you bought in Spain? Was it the number of rooms or the size of the plot? Was it the proximity to local shops and bars or the fact that you have a large patio that takes the sun in the […]

Last updated on March 17th, 2020 at 05:47 pm. There are probably not many people who wouldn’t feel a sense of fear at finding the Spanish tax man at their door. Even if you’ve declared every penny that you should you can’t help but feel irrationally guilty. They are the kind of official who you […]

Last updated on May 9th, 2020 at 04:31 pm. The Spanish Tax Authority is continuing to target tax evaders and has announced further measures in its fiscal fraud campaign. Over the past few years we have continued to see a number of different strategies being used. Cross-referencing electricity consumption with the Land Registry, the circulation […]

Last updated on March 17th, 2020 at 05:50 pm. You know that minute when you first realise that your wallet or purse is missing. The shock that runs through you to be replaced by a vague hope that you didn’t bring it with you in the first place. In that second of realisation you’ve already […]

Last updated on March 17th, 2020 at 05:51 pm. Is CCTV surveillance a good or a bad thing? Most people agree that having a watchful eye in our streets and thoroughfares is a good idea. But how far should it go and when does neighbourhood watch become Big Brother? We have become almost blasé to […]

Last updated on March 17th, 2020 at 05:53 pm. It’s around 12.00 o’clock on a weekday. The sound of a scooter punctures the peace and quiet that usually characterises our little calle. It happens every day around this time and is followed by the appearance of our young post woman on her bright yellow scooter. […]

Last updated on March 2nd, 2023 at 12:38 pm. 2012 was the first year in which the form 720 had to be presented by those residents in Spain with assets abroad. If there have been no changes in your circumstances since you presented your last 720 you will not need to submit a form this […]

Last updated on March 17th, 2020 at 05:56 pm. This year there have been some changes for those who have a non-resident company in Spain. The changes took effect from 1st January 2013 and mean that for the tax year 2013 there is no longer a requirement to present the Spanish tax declaration form 213 […]

Last updated on March 17th, 2020 at 05:58 pm. If you own a property in Spain you should be ready for the unexpected. Not everything will run logically or operate in the way that you are used to. If your connection with Spain is more than a few years old, you will know exactly what […]

Last updated on March 17th, 2020 at 06:00 pm. As the deadline for the non-resident tax declarations (December 31st) approaches, many non-residents with property in Spain have been coming to us with their questions. Here, we summarise the answers. Am I a resident or a non-resident? If you live in Spain for more than 183 […]

Last updated on March 19th, 2020 at 09:56 am. Do you ever get thrown by this question? Having lived in Spain for a few years now I find it increasingly difficult to decide how to respond. Of course, the context is all important. If I am in a bar talking to someone new then I […]

Last updated on March 19th, 2020 at 09:57 am. It’s October and already in some countries, there is the tentative onset of Christmas preparations.  The early heralding of the Christmas season is something that some of our native countries are renowned for. In Spain, however, the coming of Christmas is a much more low-key affair. […]

Last updated on March 19th, 2020 at 09:59 am. In the middle of an economic crisis it seems as though European governments are thinking up even more weird and wonderful ways of clawing back money. Of course, taxation is one of the main ways that they can attempt to make the books balance. But who […]

Last updated on March 19th, 2020 at 10:01 am. Where should the majority of tax be collected from? Countries have, by and large, come to the same kinds of conclusions. We expect to make some contribution to the state purse from our earnings and income. We are also used to having VAT on services and […]

Last updated on March 19th, 2020 at 10:02 am. During the months of April to June, fiscal representatives around the Spain are very busy. This is the time of year when the Spanish resident tax declarations are completed.  If you are over a basic threshold then you are required to complete an annual tax declaration […]

Last updated on March 19th, 2020 at 10:03 am. In 2012 the Spanish tax authority uncovered 4,700 undeclared rentals as a result of information received from the electricity companies. This is probably the tip of the iceberg. Many non-resident property owners who rent out their property in Spain still seem to be unaware of the […]

Last updated on April 28th, 2020 at 10:59 am. The Spanish Government has to increase the amount of tax it collects alongside saving money through austerity measures. One of the main ways that countries have been doing this across Europe is through increasing the rate of VAT (IVA in Spain). Spain followed suit in September […]

Last updated on March 19th, 2020 at 10:05 am. It’s no longer just a case of making sure you don’t lose your credit card or have it stolen. You have to watch out for internet fraud too if you’re going to protect your bank account. Occasionally, someone will contact us concerned about an email they […]

Last updated on March 19th, 2020 at 10:07 am. Spain is one of 11 countries who have added their signature to the request to implement the Tobin Tax or Financial Transition Tax (FTT). This is a tax that would be levied on bank transactions and is seen as one way of funding economic recovery. Although […]

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 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 […]