Spain Explained

Fiscal Residency in Spain

Last updated on May 20th, 2020 at 03:41 pm.

People can think that all they need is a green civil residency certificate to prove they are resident in Spain. In this article we explain that having a certificate of fiscal residency  can be much more useful.

We’re often asked the question ‘am I a resident in Spain?’ If you live in Spain for more than 183 days (and they need not be consecutive) in any one year then yes, you are. That bit’s simple. But how do you prove it?

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Most people would probably answer ‘by applying for the green residencia’. That is the A4 green piece of paper that you obtain from your local police station. What you have there is in fact civil residency but as people move backwards and forwards across countries ‘forgetting’ to cancel these, the Spanish government does not rely on the green paper alone. If you really want to prove you are a resident in Spain you need to have evidence of your fiscal residency.

The Certificate of Fiscal Residency

The certificate of fiscal residency is a white printed-off certificate that is obtained from The Tax Office – Agencia Tributaria. This is what you need to prove residency when you sell your home and avoids you having 3% of the sale price retained. The Fiscal Residency certificate proves residency where there is an inheritance claim and can make a big difference to the amount of inheritance tax payable. You will not benefit from these tax advantages unless the notary sees your fiscal residency certificate when presiding over the transactions

In order to obtain your fiscal residency certificate you need a copy of your last Spanish Tax Return – Modelo 100. This is why we recommend all residents make a tax return, even if they fall below the threshold requiring them to pay any tax. It is difficult to obtain a fiscal residency certificate without having presented an annual tax declaration.

Proving income to the authorities has become even more of an issue due to the new co-payment system for prescriptions. Making a resident tax declaration and being a fiscal resident is the best way of ensuring that you are reimbursed when your monthly prescription limit is reached.

Making a tax return

The process is not that difficult. They are completed during June and are retrospective. So in June 2013 you will be completing a declaration for January to December 2012. The last complete tax year. A fiscal representative, like Ábaco, submits many of these every year and will be able to give you advice about the documents you need to take with you for the declaration to be completed.

The appointment at Ábaco usually takes about half an hour and the form is completed online. This means that we can tell people straight away how much there is to pay, if there is a nil return or even if there is overpaid tax to collect.

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Not every resident has to complete an annual tax declaration and it is possible to prove fiscal residency without one. However, for a small annual fee, it is a useful way of ensuring that you have the proof you need when you want to demonstrate fiscal residency. In these times of economic uncertainty, it is one way of making sure you really are on the map in Spain.

If you’re wondering how to apply for spanish residency, you needn’t be intimidated by the process – it’s simpler than you might think. However, Spanish bureaucracy is constantly changing, so to avoid frustration and
wasting time we recommend hiring the services of a professional adviser.

We would like to offer you a first free consultation so you can solve your queries. You just have to fill out this form and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

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18 comments

benjamin stratton

18 April, 2018 8:50 am

recently received a letter
recently received a letter from my bank la caixa saying they require a 036 form from me and documents accrediting my tax economic summary. I do not work at the moment live of my savings so don’t pay an tax

I am resident in spain and have an NIE number

Suzanne O'Connell

23 April, 2018 11:22 am

Hi Benjamin

Hi Benjamin

You must go to your bank as soon as you can and take your passports, residency, last tax declaration and P60s etc. They require justification of income and if it isn't produced then they can have your account blocked. 

Arthur Chamberlain

9 January, 2019 2:10 pm

How long is the Certificate
How long is the Certificate of Fiscal Residency valid when selling a property in Mallorca.

Suzanne O'Connell

15 January, 2019 1:18 pm

Hi Arthur

Hi Arthur

This depends on the Notary and Land Registry but should be valid for the year but on sales they may require it to be a few weeks or months. 

Jessica Robinson

30 January, 2020 4:38 pm

Hello,

I moved over to Barcelona in July 2019 and am living here for one year. I want to apply for a Spanish Tax Residency Certificate. Please can you send me the forms/ details for this?

Thanks for your help!

Jessica

Oscar Paoli

5 February, 2020 2:10 pm

Hi Jessica,

Thank you for your message, unfortunately we are not arranging with residencia certificates in Barcelona, but we recommend you contact https://www.immigrationspain.es/en/ as I am sure they will be able to assist you.

Kind regards,

Ábaco Advisers

C Hubbard

17 May, 2020 5:54 pm

We applied for residency and we were asked to return when my partner had his pension paidcinto our Spanish account and we have 7000euros in our bank for 3 months. I had comprehensive health insurance but was told I needed a certificate and we were also told that there wasn’t spending money and he needed to see more money being spent. It’s really important we don’t get declined this time. Do we need anything else?

Oscar Paoli

17 May, 2020 9:04 pm

Hi Caroline,
We would need to have more details of your situation and pass them on to our partner who deals with the residency permits, if you wish to get more information, please contact us at info@abacoadvisers.com
Kind regards,
Ábaco Advisers

Fiona Roberts

10 July, 2020 2:53 pm

Hi
Looking to the future we would like to retire in menorca ..so just thinking of heath care how do you get a fiscal residency?we are not of the age where we get a pension so we would be living off savings …does this matter ..got at least at least another ten years before we get a state pension ..not waiting that long as in present times might not live to see it ..any guidance would be helpful

Oscar Paoli

12 July, 2020 10:34 pm

Hi Fiona,
In your situation we would recommend you to speak with our relocation adviser collaborator David Ruiz. He will go through everything with you, timing, financial means, healthcare, etc. If you wish to contact him directly please send him an email at david@torreviejatranslation.com
With kind regards,
Ábaco Advisers

Mark

5 October, 2020 11:31 pm

Hi I contacted with https://www.myspanishresidency.com/es/ and they recommended me your blog for residency related matters. I’m moving to Mallorca in a year, and would like to apply for tax residency certificate. Is there anyone I could talk to?

Oscar Paoli

6 October, 2020 2:01 pm

Hi Mark,

Thank your for contacting us. Unfortunately we do not deal with the application process directly, but we would recommend you to speak with our relocation adviser collaborator David Ruiz. He will go through everything with you, timing, documentation and costs. If you wish to contact him directly please send him an email at david@torreviejatranslation.com

With kind regards,

Ábaco Advisers

Dalila

28 March, 2021 5:03 pm

Is it possible to ask for the certificado de residencia fiscal for previous years? I would like to have one for 2019 and I have the Spanish Tax Return – Modelo 100 but on the website from agencia tributaria I cannot choose the year.

Oscar Paoli

29 March, 2021 8:22 am

Hi Dalila,

The Certificates for Fiscal Residency do not show the dates unfortunately, it may be possible to apply for a certificate as justification for the presentations of a tax Declaration via your closest tax office.

With kind regards,

Ábaco Advisers

Padam Singh

19 July, 2022 12:15 pm

Hola,
My employer said I need resident tax certificate but I dont know how to get it. I have a job in Mallorca but I have not filed anual tax return. I live here since April 2022, is it possible to file the return in order to prove fiscal residency?

Oscar Paoli

25 July, 2022 4:44 pm

Hi there,
You have to request this at local Tax Authorities office. You will get the residence tax certificate as long as you are presenting your yearly tax declaration and paying taxes.
Best of luck.
Kind regards,
Ábaco Advisers

Julie

19 October, 2022 8:39 am

Hi , I need advice as I am about to buy property in Spain. And proof of fiscal residency is required. I never did a tax return (as I thought I fell below) after more than 3 yrs working here. Can I still make one although June has passed and how quick can that be done. Or is there any other way fiscal residency can be proved. Thank you in advance.

Oscar Paoli

19 October, 2022 10:39 am

Hi Julie,

It may be possible to obtain the Certificate from the Tax Office, you would have to justify that you were actually here in Spain, works contract, movement on Account, utilities usage, Resident Document, SIP card, Driving Licence, Padrón, form 030, etc.

With kind regards,

Ábaco Advisers