Renting out property can be a very good investment. However, you need to be aware of the requirement to pay taxes on your income. If you are a non-resident then you must make a quarterly tax return using the form 210. We are now coming up to the end of the first quarter which includes income from January, February and March and tax on this is payable on 20th April.

If you are a resident then your income is declared annually as part of your income tax declaration which is filed before June each year:

If you currently live in a country that is part of the EU and are interested in moving permanently to Spain then this article might be of interest. We explain what documents you need and how you might go about obtaining them:

It’s been a topsy turvy time for conveyancing but properties are more or less holding their value. In this article we look at the overall trends and the implications for second-hand and new-build property:

It’s true that Spain has a fiesta for every month of the year. In fact, we were spoilt for choice when putting together this calendar of annual Spanish fiestas and ceremonies. If you want to be entertained every month of the year and have a good excuse for travelling around the country, then why not make this part of your bucket list!

A calendar of Spanish festivities

Have you heard of the village of Finestrat? It’s an unusual combination of a mountain village with its own beach. Although it’s not far from Benidorm, it couldn’t be more different in many respects. Built on the side of Puig Campana, it boasts fantastic views of the coast and inland and has an array of colourfully painted houses. Finestrat is home to many residents of a variety of nationalities whilst still having a traditional Spanish feel. You can find out more by reading David Ruiz’ article:

Ábaco clients are eligible to receive a free survey and advice for saving energy in their home through Iberdrola’s Customer Service Point of Mora Solutions. You can also find out more about the initiative Smart Mobility which could be of advantage to you and/ or your community of owners.

If you are a British resident in Spain and haven’t already exchanged your driving licence an agreement has been reached allowing you more time to do so. The new agreement came into operation on March 16th and for more details you might listen to this update from the British Ambassador Hugh Elliott:

If you need to rent a car and/ or you’re interested in reading about driving in Spain then you might take a look at Coys Rent-A-Car blog. There are a number of useful articles on here. For example, have you heard of the ‘elephant effect’? Reading this article certainly makes you think again about your car interior:

If you haven’t already visited the salt lakes and salt mountains in Torrevieja then you might want to take a look at this glimpse of what you’re missing. One of two lakes in the town, the ‘pink’ lake is the source of Torrevieja’s salt industry as well as providing a stunning photo shoot backdrop. Now a live webcam has also been launched that means you can check out the sunset and sunrise overlooking this incredible location:

This year the May fair will be different to normal. This annual event is celebrated in Torrevieja with a colourful blend of tents and enclosures featuring traditional Andalucian culture. It’s the perfect time to enjoy a little flamenco and watch informal dances as well as dance displays by the town’s schools. Usually, the event takes place in the port area. However, due to changes being made to this part of Torrevieja the fair this year will take place in Parque de la Estación and will be a toned-down affair billed as ‘Homenaje a la Feria de Mayo’. Even in its reduced format, it’s still worth logging this in your diary as a must for May:

Murcia Today has published a top 10 list of the best beaches in Spain where you can officially take your dog. Coming in at number 1 is a beach in Mazarron and in second place is our own Cala Mosca:

If you are a regular commuter between Spain and the UK or even if you’re just looking for the cheapest deal for family to visit, it might be an idea to check out some of the advice given her about the best times to book your flights. According to this, whatever you do, avoid Sundays!

Mutxamel in Alicante is advertising its street food market from 31st March to 2nd April. There will be a variety of food trucks selling traditional street food from different parts of the world. There’s also a timetable of different events for you to enjoy whilst munching on your hotdog:

If you have worked in Spain and your employer has contributed to the social security system or you are self-employed (autonomo) here, then you may be eligible for a Spanish pension. Expatica has produced some detailed information about what you might be entitled to in their guide to the Spanish pension system:

A guide to the Spanish pension system

We would welcome any suggestions for future themes you would like us to cover either in the newsletter or in an article on Spain Explained.

Please let us know by email at newsletter@abacoadvisers.com.

Thank you!