The Spanish Government recently announced new measures to fight against the black economy in Spain, unofficially 28% of the Spanish GDP. Who are the targets and will these measures work? The Spanish Government recently published the action plan to be carried out by Spanish tax inspectors during 2014 to reduce the Spanish black economy. This … Read more
The Spanish social security system is difficult for foreigners to understand and is extremely expensive for employers. The good news is that the government has at last introduced some meaningful employment incentives in the 2014 social security system. They really broke the mould with these incentives, well 50% broke anyway, as one of the new … Read more
From 2014, the possibility of filing the tax declarations by hand will gradually be disappearing, so that they only can be submitted by internet. Last year the Spanish Government announced that the tax law would be modified so that, from 1 January 2014, all tax declarations can only be submitted electronically, so the possibility of … Read more
The Spanish Government has approved the Budget for 2014. No surprises, the tax system will remain as it has been for 2012 and 2013. Far sighted policies that will generate growth and employment seem as remote as ever. Many argue that “Spain is different”. They mostly refer to the country’s wealth in traditions and culture, … Read more
A fairly simple answer to that question is that Spain is Spain. Everything takes longer and involves more red tape than most other countries in the civilised world. However, there is light at the end of the tunnel. The time scales are improving. Two years ago, it took six weeks to set up a new … Read more
When I heard that Spain was bringing in a new VAT cash accounting system, I was stunned. The first thought: how very progressive for Spain. However, then I read the law and how it will work, I quickly changed my mind, it would seem that the lawyers and governmental bureaucrats who wrote the law just … Read more
In previous articles we explained that the Spanish Government reintroduced wealth tax in 2011 as an emergency economic measure. The reintroduction was achieved simply by removing the 100% exemption to the tax that had originally been introduced in 2008. However, the tax was eliminated for the majority of potential taxpayers because a significant tax free … Read more
Spain is very active in signing new tax treaties and updating some old treaties, unfortunately not necessarily for the benefit of the individuals investing in Spain. Double Tax Treaties are bi lateral, supranational laws that regulate the way that foreigners are taxed on assets and income of the other country. Generally speaking where both countries … Read more
The latest fashion for the wealthy in Spain is to find another country to pay income tax. I was enjoying a pleasant lunch overlooking the paseo marítimo in Marbella in the company of Max, a client of many years. We were reflecting on how wonderful life is in Spain and remembering the dismal weather and … Read more
Here are details of the Stick that followed the tax amnesty Carrot. If there was ever a piece of tax law that needed thought, this is it! 2012 proved to be one of the most exhausting years in terms of the amount of new law. New tax regulations were certainly one of the main focuses … Read more
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