UK FIG Regime: A New Era for International Residents
For over two centuries, the United Kingdom’s “non-dom” regime was the bedrock of its appeal to the global elite. It was a system built on the complex, often elusive concept of domicile: a legal tie to a country that wasn’t necessarily where you lived, but where you ultimately considered “home.” But as of 6 April […]
Beckham Law Spain AEAT Scrutiny: Avoiding Tax Audits in 2026
For nearly two decades, the Special Tax Regime for Displaced Workers famously known as the Beckham Law has been the crown jewel of Spanish tax planning. However, navigating the Beckham Law Spain AEAT relationship has become increasingly complex following the 2023 reforms. By allowing qualifying individuals to be taxed at a flat 24% rate, Spain remains a premier […]
Digital Nomad Visa Spain: 2026 Guide for UK Professionals
With the Digital Nomad Visa Spain, the dream for many UK-based professionals of trading a grey London morning for a coffee on a terrace in Seville or a co-working space in Barcelona has never been more attainable. As we move through 2026, the Spanish Digital Nomad Visa (DNV) has matured into one of the most robust […]
English LPA in Spain: Recognition and Law 8/2021
Recognition, Jurisdiction, and the 2021 Law Reform For many British expatriates and high-net-worth individuals, managing an English LPA in Spain is a cornerstone of future planning. These documents, prepared under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and registered with the Office of the Public Guardian, are designed to ensure that trusted people can make decisions on a donor’s […]
EDAV Spain Residential Real Estate: Fiscal Vehicles Guide
EDAV Spain residential real estate continues to be a primary destination for international capital due to its unique tax advantages. While the sunshine and lifestyle are perennial draws, the sophisticated investor looks deeper into the fiscal architecture that governs these assets. Among the various vehicles available, the Entidad Dedicada al Arrendamiento de Viviendas (EDAV) stands out […]
Modelo 720 US LLC: 2026 Reporting Guide for Spanish Residents
If you live in Spain and hold an interest in a Modelo 720 US LLC, you might be sitting on a tax reporting landmine. Every year, many Spanish tax residents discover—often too late—that the Spanish Tax Office (Hacienda) expects a forensic breakdown of their global footprint, even when no Spanish tax is due. Every year, many […]
Spain: Strategic Base for Family and Business
The global business landscape is transforming. Recent research from the Financial Times reveals that nearly 6,000 owners of high-growth businesses have relocated from the UK over the past two years, with Spain emerging as the second most popular destination after the UAE. Rather than viewing this as a trend defined by departure, it represents an […]
Solving the English Probate Puzzle for Spanish Property Owners
Navigating English probate for Spanish property causes friction in Spanish notarial and registration practice for one simple reason: the two systems start from opposite assumptions about how to prove a valid succession. Understanding the complexities of English probate for Spanish property is essential for any executor or owner looking to avoid lengthy legal delays. In England and Wales, a […]
Navigating International Taxation: The Realities of the UK-Spain Treaty
International taxation often feels complex. Its main instrument, the double taxation treaty, is frequently misunderstood. Many professional errors arise not from technical difficulty, but from a failure to understand what a treaty does, what it covers, and where its limits lie. This article focuses on the interaction between the UK and Spain, including UK residence […]
The Succession Divide: Navigating Cross-Border Inheritance for Modern Families
The traditional nuclear family, married parents, biological children, assets in one country, was once the bedrock of European succession law. Today, it’s increasingly the exception rather than the rule. Modern private wealth is defined by blended households, same-sex couples, long-term cohabitation without marriage certificates, and assets scattered across the English Channel and the Mediterranean. Families […]
Substance Over Structure. Redefining the Boundary Between Tax Abuse and Simulation in Spain
On 28 January 2026, the Spanish Central Economic-Administrative Tribunal (TEAC) issued a unification decision (00/09964/2023/00/00) that clarifies, in unequivocal terms, the legal boundary between two distinct anti-avoidance doctrines that have long troubled cross-border tax planning. The decision addresses the relationship between simulation of transactions under Article 16 of the Spanish Tax Law (Ley General Tributaria […]
Beckham Law Meets the UK LLP: Spain’s Tax Office Issues Game-Changer for Expatriates
Spain’s “Beckham Law” was designed to attract international talent. But in practice, it has evolved into something more fragile: a regime that can be lost not only through obvious breaches, such as changing residence status, but through technical missteps in the architecture of income. One such risk has worried inbound taxpayers for years: what happens […]
Counting Days, Creating Risk: Why the UK and Spain Still Get Tax Residence So Differently
With the 31st January UK tax return deadline fast approaching, thousands of British nationals living in Spain face a question that appears deceptively simple. Where are you tax resident? For internationally mobile professionals, tax residence is rarely a question of where one lives in the ordinary sense. It is a question of how days are […]
Beckham Law Withholding Tax Vacuum: Do US or UK Employers Need to Run Spanish Payroll?
Spain’s “Beckham Law” (Article 93 LIRPF) remains one of the most attractive tax incentives in Europe for foreign professionals relocating to Spain. Named after the footballer who famously benefited from it, the regime allows qualifying individuals to pay a flat 24% tax rate on their worldwide income, while other foreign-sourced investment income and gains are […]
Changing your Tax Residency: Key steps to avoid costly mistakes
When footballer Kylian Mbappé moved to Real Madrid, or when tech entrepreneur Daniel Ek relocated from Sweden to the UK, the media focused on transfer fees and business deals. But behind the headlines lay a far more complex challenge: navigating the labyrinth of international tax residency rules that could make or break their financial futures. […]
Spain Finally Levels the Playing Field: UK Landlords Can Claim Rental Deductions Too
Spain’s National Court has rocked the world of Spanish real estate taxation with a decision that stands to benefit thousands of non-EU landlords and international investors. In July 2025, the court extended a vital right, previously reserved for EU/EEA taxpayers, to non-EU residents, allowing them to deduct expenses directly tied to their Spanish rental income […]
Invalid Notifications in Spain and HMRC Recovery in the UK: A Procedural Defence for Cross-Border Taxpayers
Over recent months, we have seen a growing number of UK taxpayers receiving letters from HMRC demanding payment of Spanish tax debts on behalf of the Agencia Estatal de Administración Tributaria (AEAT). In many of these cases, the underlying issue is not the amount of tax assessed but a procedural flaw: the taxpayer was never properly notified in Spain. What may seem a […]
Huge Win for Non-Residents: Spain’s Supreme Court Opens Wealth Tax Refunds for Non Residents
Spain’s Supreme Court has delivered two landmark decisions (STS 1372/2025 and STS 1402/2025) that fundamentally reshape how non-residents are taxed when they own significant assets in Spain. For the first time, the Court has confirmed that non-residents are entitled to the Wealth Tax protection cap (límite conjunto de tributación), a mechanism that prevents the combined […]
Spanish Non-Resident Tax on Employment Income: When Does It Apply?
If you’ve been working from Spain while maintaining tax residence elsewhere, you might be surprised to learn that you could still owe Spanish taxes on that employment income. Spanish Non-Resident Income Tax (IRNR) can apply even when you’re not a Spanish tax resident, and understanding when this obligation arises is crucial for avoiding penalties and […]
Navigating Spain’s Golden Visa After the New Immigration Law Reform
The Investors residence permit (also known as golden visa) has been one of the most popular vehicles used by non-European expats in order to start a life in Spain. Between 2019 and 2020, before Brexit fully took effect, some UK citizens secured Spanish Golden Visas through property investments in anticipation of losing EU free movement […]
Why Private Wealth is the Next Tax Frontier – Published in Taxation
We are pleased to share that an article by Fernando Del Canto, “Why Private Wealth is the Next Tax Frontier”, has been published in Taxation magazine, the UK’s leading publication for tax professionals. The piece looks at how governments are gradually shifting their attention away from corporate taxation and towards the taxation of private wealth – a change […]
Practical Steps for Handling Wills and Trusts Between the UK and Spain
Understanding the Challenge Managing estates across borders presents unique challenges, particularly between the UK and Spain. With over 293,000 British citizens residing in Spain and countless others owning holiday homes, the intersection of these two legal systems has become increasingly important. The fundamental differences in how these countries approach inheritance law can create significant complications […]
Remote Working in Spain: Does Spanish Employment Law Apply?
As more UK employers support staff working remotely from Spain under the Digital Nomad Visa, it is crucial to understand which employment laws apply and what obligations arise. UK Law in the Contract – But Not the Whole Story Your employment contract can specify that UK law governs the employment relationship. This choice is valid […]
