The IBI or Impuesto sobre Bienes Inmuebles is the local council property tax that is used to pay for local services and amenities. IBI must be paid on every Spanish property. In this article we explain how it is calculated, what it is used for, when it is collected and what happens if you miss your payment:

If you are a couple who have chosen not to marry and have property in Spain, then what happens if one of you passes away? In this article we explain about inheritance and donation tax implications and advise you to check out your own situation to ensure that property transfer goes smoothly in the future:

The NLV is the most popular route for people wishing to come and live in Spain. Designed for retirees and those who no longer have the need to work, it has previously been limited by time restrictions. Before recent changes, you had only three months from obtaining your visa to actually make your move to Spain. A time limit that was tricky for people navigating the sale of their house, for example. Now the three-month rule has been increased to 365 days. A Place in the Sun tells us more:

SpanishPropertyInsight has long been a respected source of information about buying and selling property in Spain. Their comprehensive guide takes you through the process right from settling on your sales strategy to what happens after the sale:

A Comprehensive Guide to Selling Property in Spain

Spanish banks are tightening up on their monitoring of income and spending. In this article from Healthplan Magazine, they provide a summary of the main changes and provide some quick, practical tips:

There hasn’t been much good news for landlords recently given the increased requirements around registering and compliance. However, the change to allow non-EU landlords to balance their income with expenses for Spanish tax purposes will be a welcome breath of fresh air. For more detailed information about this and what might be expected next:

Our website is full of good advice about the importance of having a prospective property carefully checked out before you sign away your money. Now, this article from EuroWeekly, is another source of information about the pitfalls of rushing into property purchase without the correct legal checks taking place:

Which are the cheapest Spanish supermarkets? There aren’t really any surprises but it’s still worth a look:

Gary and Sandra were looking for the perfect holiday home in Spain. With the help of ‘A Place in the Sun’ they were introduced to potential properties in the region of Murcia and went on to speak about their experiences at the NEC in Birmingham. Read their story here:

For the highlights of Birmingham’s live event:

Blood donation is a vital voluntary activity that most people are happy to contribute to. However, in Spain it has not been possible for those who lived in the UK from 1980 – 1996 until now. Spain has now lifted the ban which was implemented due to the presence of ‘mad cow’ disease in the UK. In this article, Spanish News Today explains the origins of the ban, why it has been lifted and the importance of giving blood. There is also a useful list of the criteria you must meet if you do want to contribute to the blood banks:

Spain lifts ban on blood donations from people who lived in the UK from 1980-1996

When talking about North Costa Blanca, Benidorm might first come to mind. In this article from Think Spain, they outline not only why Benidorm is misunderstood but also the great variety of towns and villages that neighbour it. Read about the difference between the North and South and take a stroll through celebrated towns such as Benissa, Jávea and Dénia:

Best places to live on the North Costa Blanca

If you have the ability to work anywhere in the world, only needing a laptop and internet connection, then Spain could very well be your country of choice. The climate, culture and value for money here have attracted many people who don’t require an office to work in. This article tracks the popularity of Spanish cities in the list of top 20 places for digital nomads:

Altogether seven Spanish cities feature in the ranking created by Dojo and reported by Forbes:

It’s not only digital nomads who sing the praises of Valencia (yes, we’ve given away the name of one of the Spanish seven) but also retirees:

If you’re used to making transactions in another European country, you must have noticed the high amount of cash that changes hands in Spain. In regular use are 50€ notes – a sight that is uncommon, if present at all, elsewhere. Following the huge Iberian power outage and subsequent blackout, people were once again reminded of the value of holding some cash in reserve.

However, the prominence of cash is also an indication of income and expenditure below the radar. The tax office, in its continuing pursuit of revenue, is once again focussing on tracking cash as a means of spotting those who are not paying their way. EuroWeekly reports:

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!