Articles

How Are Late Payment Interest Charges Taxed?

In recent years, there has been significant debate regarding the tax treatment of late payment interest in the context of taxation. Below, we explain how these interests are calculated and how they are taxed under the Spanish Personal Income Tax (IRPF). What are late payment interests? Late payment interests are intended to compensate the tax … Read more

Low Emission Zones (LEZ) in Spain: What You Need to Know

What are LEZs? Low Emission Zones (LEZ), or Zonas de Bajas Emisiones (ZBE), are designated areas within Spanish cities where access is restricted for the most polluting vehicles. The aim is simple: reduce harmful emissions, improve air quality, and encourage a shift towards cleaner transport. Under Spain’s Climate Change Law, all cities with more than … Read more

Verifactu: The Next Step in Spain’s Fiscal Digitalisation

In Spain’s ever-evolving administrative landscape, few initiatives combine digital transformation and regulatory rigour as effectively as Verifactu. Scheduled to come into force in 2026, this system represents a decisive step towards transparency — and a fundamental shift in how businesses and the self-employed issue invoices and report to the tax authorities. Verifactu: What It Is … Read more

Shell Companies and why you cannot form a Spanish company working only from home with a computer

In recent years, many freelancers and self-employed professionals in Spain have created companies to structure their business activities. While this is completely legal when done properly, some of these companies are what are known as shell companies, businesses that exist mainly on paper, without real employees, physical offices, or real economic activity. Their main purpose … Read more

Income Tax 2024 Season: When payments run fast and refunds lag behind

On June 30, 2025, the Spanish Tax Agency (Agencia Tributaria) officially executed the first installment collection of the Impuesto sobre la Renta de las Personas Físicas (IRPF) for the 2024 fiscal year. As every year, the date marked a moment of reckoning: for some, a withdrawal; for others, a windfall. Taxpayers who opted for the … Read more

Should I Pay Compensatory Maintenance as a Lump Sum?

If you are separating from your spouse and will be required to pay compensatory maintenance, it is generally more advantageous to do so in the form of periodic payments rather than a single lump sum. Below, we explain the tax implications under Spanish law and why a phased payment approach may prove more beneficial. Compensatory … Read more

Can the Spanish tax office take funds from your bank account without your consent?

One of the most frequent concerns among foreign residents in Spain is the belief that the Spanish tax office can empty their bank account without prior notice. While the tax authorities do have the power to freeze funds (embargo) in certain circumstances, this is never an automatic or arbitrary process. Although Hacienda is sometimes viewed … Read more