Residentia obligations.

 I know you have to have a Residentia to sign on to the Spanish health system etc but obviously signing on to the health system is optional. When ouy have the Residentia are there any things that you have to do by law ( e.g.pay Spanish Tax) or can you just carry on being like a holiday maker.

Also are there any legal obligations you should comply with if you live in Spain 11 months of the year.?

i have been a resident for 5 years now and have gone as "Spanish" as possible, these questions are to clarify points that cam e up in conversation recently, there seems to be considerable confusion.

 Thanks John,that clears things up a bit. The Resdidencia I referred to is indeed the registration you mentioned.Only difference is my friend rents over here 365 days a year, should he be on the Spanish tax system? 

...........................................   my friend rents over here 365 days a year, should he be on the Spanish tax system?

Yes, Acapulco,   as I said:-  
 

Those who spend 183 or more in any year, (or have their centre of economic activities, main home, family residing, )  in Spain,  must not only register but also automatically become Tax Resident and are thus liable to pay tax on their  worldwide income, in accordance with any Double Taxation Agreement their country has with Spain

 My friend has lived over here for 6 years, rented for 5, still does not pay Spanish tax.He thinks because he still has a property in the UK he is o.k. to do this. I hope they don't catch up with him as he is a good friend and I would be sorry to see him panic and go back to the u.k.

Thanks again, John.

Sorry Acapulco-if your friend hasn't been paying his taxes in Spain for years he deserves to be caught-why didn't he go to an accountant for advice?

 Question for John x

Those who own a property in Spain, but  are not living here, must pay an annual tax on their holiday/second home, and Patrimonio tax if it has a Catastral Value (see IBI notice) of more than 300,000 euros,

Hi John

I am a non resident with a property in Spain that has a Catastral Value under 300,000 euros.

I paid €398 in tax December last year. For 2011

What tax did I pay.

I have been a non-resident for 11 years now and have paid tax each year.

They used to call it Wealth Tax.

JB

Thank You John zx

 Sorry Acapulco-if your friend hasn't been paying his taxes in Spain for years he deserves to be caught-why didn't he go to an accountant for advice?

This guide on taxes might be of help:

 http://www.costaluzlawyers.es/images/guides/spanish_taxes_free_guide.pdf

Please contact us if you have any question/s.

Kindest,

Maria

 Thanks for the tax info Maria.Is there an allowance we are allowed tax free ? Like most people I think I am paying to much tax

He should expect fines and payment of back taxes. An accountant will sort it out.

 Thanks again.

Sorry Acapulco-if your friend hasn't been paying his taxes in Spain for years he deserves to be caught-why didn't he go to an accountant for advice?

Surely if your "Friend" is over 30 years old and British born he knows the consequences of not paying tax when it should be paid, after all everyone in England has grown up with the knowledge of what will happen if tax is avoided....And most tax laws are pretty much the same all over.

I think some believe that if everyone who don't pay tax suddenly started to pay tax, then the country would get out of the rut it's in,  (UK, Spain, any country) and the honest tax paying people would have lower tax bills...Deluded for sure,  whats your friend avoided? 5 years, say 300€ a year..1500€ unpaid tax, ministers, big business owners fiddle this every week one way or another, truth is like it or not, you pay more tax only means more money for them to fiddle and waste,

You have heard this every time in the UK with road tax, TV license, car insurance and more, still waiting for it all to come down.

Suppose whats good for the Goose is good for the Gander as well, when it comes to not paying tax.

 I see your point Baz but I think 300 euros is a bit of a low estimate for annual tax. If you are paying that maybe I should ask the name of your accountant. . i am paying over 1,000 a year on an pension income of about 13,000 euros. My friend has a bit bigger income than I but he would get a renters allowance i suppose that i do not.

Acapulco- you ARE paying too much tax; we are in a similar position and pay much less tax. Have you got a qualified tax accountant, familiar with UK/Spain taxas? Or do you just go to a gestor. We have had several accountants, with one, we did pay over 1000 euros tax, but with the one we have now, now it's under half that!

 I see your point Baz but I think 300 euros is a bit of a low estimate for annual tax. If you are paying that maybe I should ask the name of your accountant. . i am paying over 1,000 a year on an pension income of about 13,000 euros. My friend has a bit bigger income than I but he would get a renters allowance i suppose that i do not.

Sorry Acapulco but don't get misled i don't pay any tax in Spain right now as i sold my house a few months back, and as you know that tax was very low, i do still retain the same accountant i have had for about twenty years in Spain and if you do want their name/address i will send it via private email, they are in Torrevieja and i think they are okay, but that's only my opinion.

To date i have never ever had any problems with them, unlike the many on here who seem to have problems every other day. But it's worth remembering..Pay cheap...Pay twice.

I presume your euro pension is transferred from the UK, could you find out the amount of £££'s tax you would pay if this was still in the UK...Perhaps then 1000€ is not so bad, but on the face of it sounds a lot, and if it were me i most certainly would be having a word with another accountant.