Becoming a non-resident in Spain

Hi, sorry for the confusing heading. I have lived in Spain for 20 years and own my own property (well have a huge mortgage on it). I have just set myself up as a freelance writer, and will be spending around 7 months of the year in the UK from now on as I can work from anywhere. Basically i want to start paying tax in the UK, as I will be spending more time there than here. I am officially a resident in Spain so how do I become a non-resident? Thanks, Amatista

I guess the simple answer is by becoming a resident elsewhere, which you will be by default if you spend 7 monhts of the year in the UK. Notify HMRC, register with a local GP, apply for your EHIC so that you're covered when in Spain for emergencies, notify your UK and Spanish banks etc. Not sure whether you need to de-register with Hacienda & the INSS as such, but you will of course have to file a 210 and pay your non-resident tax on your property in Spain. You could go to Hacienda & Social Security offices etc. to check, which one would think should be more reliable than asking on a forum like this, but nobody in those places knows very much of course.

Thanks Roberto. I am trying to avoid the social security/tax offices as they are always a nightmare but may go through an accountant/gestor. Thanks, Jane

Believe me, I know how you feel! But just to go and ask what you need to do, seems a waste of money paying a gestor - who in all likelihood will be just as ill-informed and incompetent as the funcionarios in govt. offices!

Amatista.              The first step would I suggest be to cancel your EU Citizen’s  Residence  Registration, at the Policia Nacional where you obtained it.   And as Roberto says, if you will continue to have a bank account here then you will need a non-residence cetificate for your bank, and then change to account to Non Res. 

I would think that if you contact the HMRC and ask their advice they will tell you exactly what to do regarding your tax residence situation..

You will also need to fill in Modelo 30 and sent it to Hacienda.  This will tell them you are no longer resident for tax purposes.

http://www.agenciatributaria.es/AEAT.internet/Modelos_formularios/modelo_030.shtml

Thanks for that