Spanish citizenship, have to pay tax?

linsaywv Active member

Member since 06 July 2022

linsaywvActive member21 October 2024 03:23:30

I am from Canada however I am getting Spanish citizenship and Spanish passport. I'm not sure if I will live in Spain right away or if I will only live there a couple of months a year. Would I still have to pay taxes, personal income tax, if I make less than 鈧�20,000 a year and don't live in Spain?

gwynj Bulgaria Expert

Member since 30 June 2020

gwynjBulgaria Expert21 October 2024 07:57:36

2441

@linsaywv

You don't automatically become a Spanish tax resident by acquiring Spanish nationality. Even owning a home or living in Spain a couple of months a year would not typically trigger tax residence. However, if you decide to live in Spain and meet the substantial presence test (more than 183 days in a year), you would become a tax resident.

Phil722 Active member

Member since 21 November 2018

Phil722Active member21 October 2024 12:42:10

@linsaywv If you live in Spain 183+ days in any calendar year (or is it any 365-day period?), you need to pay Spanish taxes. Note that it's not double taxation, it would be the difference between what you've paid in your home country and what it would be in Spain. Also note that if you own tax-free bonds, they're NOT tax free outside your home country.

This rule is enforced, with the most prominent recent case being against Shakira.聽聽