If you are a foreigner living, investing, or doing business in Spain, year-end is not just another date on the calendar. It is the moment that will determine whether you start the new year fully compliant, optimized, and confident — or facing penalties, double taxation, and unnecessary costs.
Spain’s tax system is one of the most complex in Europe, especially for expatriates balancing multiple jurisdictions. Without professional guidance, even well-intentioned taxpayers can make costly mistakes.
👉 At Lextax, we transform year-end tax stress into clarity and opportunity. This checklist highlights what you must review before December 31st — and why having expert advisors on your side makes all the difference.
1. Confirm Your Tax Residency Status
Your residency determines how much you pay and where you pay it. Many foreigners wrongly assume that spending fewer than 183 days keeps them non-resident. Spain also applies family and economic ties tests — and courts often side with the tax authority.
✅ Action: Don’t guess your residency — let Lextax perform a Residency Status Review to protect you from unexpected worldwide taxation.
2. Review Worldwide Income and Double Tax Relief
Spain taxes residents on all global income. Salaries, dividends, pensions, or property income abroad are all taxable. Fortunately, Spain has DTAs with Canada, USA, UK, Switzerland, Israel and others.
✅ Action: Ensure your foreign income is declared correctly and double taxation credits are applied.
👉 With Lextax, we guarantee every euro you pay abroad is credited in Spain — no double taxation, no mistakes.
3. Optimize Your Investment and Capital Gains
Year-end is the last chance to:
– Offset losses against gains.
– Adjust sales timing for shares or property.
– Review exposure to Wealth Tax (residents on worldwide assets, non-residents on Spanish assets).
✅ Action: Ask Lextax to run a pre-year-end tax simulation to identify savings before December 31st.
4. Property Owners: Avoid Costly Penalties
Even non-residents must file:
– Form 210: Annual imputed income, even if property is unused.
– Rental Income Returns: Quarterly, with possible deductions.
– Capital Gains Tax: 19% for non-residents, plus 3% withheld at sale.
👉 Many foreigners miss these deadlines and face penalties of thousands of euros.
✅ Action: Trust Lextax to manage all your property-related tax filings — on time and with peace of mind.
5. Inheritance and Gift Planning
Spain applies Inheritance and Gift Tax to assets in Spain — and for residents, to worldwide estates. Canadians, Americans, and Israelis with property in Spain are often shocked by the differences compared to their home countries.
✅ Action: Secure your family’s future with cross-border estate planning by Lextax.
6. Special Tax Regimes: Beckham Law & Digital Nomad Visa
- Beckham Law: Flat 24% tax on Spanish income (up to €600,000), exemption on foreign income.
- Digital Nomad Visa: New in Spain, offers residency for remote workers and access to favorable taxation.
👉 Many foreigners miss the application deadline and lose eligibility.
✅ Action: Let Lextax confirm if you qualify — and handle the full application process before year-end.
7. Donations and Deductions
Support a cause and benefit from tax savings: up to 80% deduction on the first €150 and 35–40% on larger donations.
✅ Action: Before year-end, ask Lextax to integrate charitable giving into your tax strategy.
8. Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Not filing because “I already pay abroad.”
- Forgetting Wealth Tax
- Missing the obligation to declare foreign assets (Form 720).
- Relying only on the 183-day rule.
👉 These errors lead to audits, penalties, and sleepless nights.
✅ Action: With Lextax, your compliance is guaranteed — and your risks eliminated.
9. Why Lextax Is Your Year-End Partner
At Lextax, we don’t just calculate numbers. We provide:
– Strategic cross-border planning tailored to expats and investors.
– All-inclusive service: tax, legal, and immigration under one roof.
– Proactive monitoring: we anticipate deadlines and opportunities before you ask.
– Bilingual experts who simplify Spanish bureaucracy.
👉 With us, you gain peace of mind, cost savings, and confidence that every detail is handled.
Conclusion
For foreigners in Spain, year-end is the make-or-break moment for your tax position. The difference between paying more than necessary and optimizing legally and strategically often comes down to having the right advisor.
At Lextax, we are more than tax advisors — we are your trusted partner and translator of complexity, ensuring your move, investment, or residency in Spain is both profitable and stress-free.
👉 Don’t wait until January.
Contact Lextax today and secure your year-end strategy before it’s too late.