Spain's Beckham Law, officially known as the "Special Expatriate Tax Regime," was introduced in 2005. Named after footballer David Beckham, who was one of the first high-profile individuals to benefit from it, the law was designed to attract skilled foreign workers and high-income professionals to Spain. It offers significant tax adva

  Renting out properties as tourist houses or apartments (Viviendas de Uso Turístico, or VUTs) in Spain can be lucrative, but there can be significant legal and regulatory challenges. Individual investors can find themselves entangled in complex legal issues after deciding to rent out their property. While the prospect of additional income is

  Clients sometimes ask us whether they should raise money to finance a property purchase in their home country where they are familiar with the process or here in Spain. Before I briefly look at possible advantages or disadvantages, I want to stress that it is unlikely that you will be able to use the property you are buying as security. A le

    Wealth Tax (Impuesto sobre el Patrimonio (IP)) is a national tax in Spain which has had an up-and-down ride in recent years. It is principally regulated by Law 19/1991. However, its collection is 100% devolved to the Autonomous Communities, which can exercise their own regulatory powers according to Law 22/2009. In Andalusia, control

  US and Canadian citizens are increasingly interested in buying property here in Spain due to our favourable climate, beautiful landscapes, rich culture, and relatively affordable property market. We are frequently asked whether there are issues for US and Canadian citizens in buying property in Spain. In short, the answer is absolutely not.

  There has been considerable controversy in Spain in recent times with regard to tourist rentals in urban areas. As well as the popularity of “City Breaks” made possible by cheap flights, the rise of Airbnb creating a market for inexpensive rooms, apartments and houses, often in residential areas, has encouraged such travel and created a boom

  What is it? How is it calculated? Who pays it and when?   The plusvalía tax, formally known as the "Impuesto sobre el Incremento de Valor de los Terrenos de Naturaleza Urbana" (IIVTNU), is a municipal tax. It is imposed on the increase in value of urban land when it is sold, transferred, or inherited. This tax is crucial for local gover

  Many clients ask us about the Catastro. They've heard of it in connection with property purchases, but don't know what it does and why it is important. I'll attempt to explain with some concrete examples:   Property Identification The origins of the Catastro date back to the 18thC. The introduction of land use planning was a threat to t

  The Spanish Ministry of Housing and Urban Spaces has announced grants for house owners who wish to upgrade their property and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. Comprehensive Residential Building and Housing Rehabilitation Aid Programme The rehabilitation programme for economic and social recovery in residential environments, forms part of t

High-speed rail (HSR) is a critical component of modern transportation infrastructure, offering fast, efficient, and environmentally friendly travel. Various countries have developed extensive HSR networks, with notable differences in length, development plans, and operational characteristics. Spain is at the forefront of HSR development. Only one

  Introduction   Recognising that the 2002 regulations governing urban planning (known as LOUA: la Ley de Ordenación Urbanística de Andalucía) were too restrictive and based on an outmoded way of thinking, the Junta de Andalucia set about creating a more flexible model and this was brought into effect in June 2022. The new regulations are

  What Are The Possibilities?   There are two possible ways to buy a property that has a loan outstanding attached to it:   Eliminating The Loan When signing to complete the purchase at the notary, your lawyer will have two cheques totalling the amount you still owe to the vendor which is typically 90% of the price as you will have p

  Introduction If you own a property in Spain but are not fiscally resident in the country, that is if you spend less than 183 days per year in Spain, you are considered to be non-resident. Non-residents will normally need to justify to which tax authority they pay their taxes. Governments don't like citizens to be non-resident everywhere! You

  What is the Spanish Digital Nomad Visa? Recognising the significant rise in people's ability to work remotely, which was strengthened by the recent Covid pandemic, and a widespread desire to experience living in various locations, the Spanish government introduced at the end of 2022 a visa which would enable such people to reside temporarily

Photo: El Independiente de Granada Last Saturday, I sat in the car for ten minutes trying to get to my garage, having entered the Albayzín via Calle Pagés. What the hell was going on? So much traffic leaving and trying to enter the barrio. It didn't help that the pilonas (bollards that restrict entry to residents only) had been removed at the end o

  What is the Spanish Non-Lucrative Visa? The Spanish Non-Lucrative Visa is a means for non-EU citizens to live legally in Spain. It is aimed principally at retired people who have income arising in their home country (or elsewhere) with which they can sustain themselves while living in Spain. Buying a property in Spain does not give an automa

  What is the Spanish Golden Visa? The Spanish Golden Visa is a residency-by-investment program that grants non-European Union (EU) citizens the right to reside in Spain by investing in the country's real estate market (or other qualifying assets). Established in 2013, this initiative has gained popularity among non-EU nationals looking to liv

    A new draft law states that civil servants can lose their positions if they fail an evaluation of their ability to work. A radical change from the existing system of jobs for life. One you've passed the competitive oposiciones exam and secured your first position, you have a job for life, regardless of your level of incompetence, some

  The regional government in Andalusia has recently unveiled a €133m plan for eco-housing. Dubbed the “Ecovivienda Plan”, it will generate €133.5m for refurbishing homes and buildings, emphasising energy efficiency across the region.    More than 25,000 Andalusian families are expected to benefit, claiming aid of up to 80% for the to

  Corrala de Santiago, a stunning example of a renovated Moorish style building in Granada, Spain.   It's well worth stepping inside to have a look at this view from the interior courtyard. It's free to enter and there is generally an exhibition on show too. In fact, this last weekend I went to watch an evening of short films in Corr