Financial advice in Spain

The date has been set for the 2025–2026 tax return filing period. Like every year, taxpayers will submit their accounts to the Tax Agency during the spring months.The tax calendar also sets out the key dates for filing personal income tax returns (IRPF), online, by phone or in person.

Receiving your payslip and seeing money missing is never pleasant – and in many cases, it is not an administrative error but a wage garnishment.

Spain ranks first in the EU for young people working outside their field of study. According to Eurostat, 28.9% of under-34s are employed in roles unrelated to their qualifications – the highest share in the EU. This figure is well above the EU average of 20.4%, a gap of more than eight percentage points, highlighting a growing mismatch between education and the labour market.

Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa could lure remote workers frustrated by the Iran‑UAE conflict, offering residency with appealing tax terms under Spain’s favourable regime. As instability around Iran shakes confidence in Dubai, some professionals are exploring relocation to Spain for work flexibility and reduced taxation.

The birth rate has reversed its recent decline.

According to a study by idealista, 49% of the current supply of two-bedroom flats for sale in Spain is priced below the reasonable affordability threshold. In other words, they are within reach of a household on an average income that allocates no more than 30% of its earnings to mortgage repayments – equivalent to €805 per month.

Electricity prices in Spain have been one of the biggest household concerns in recent years.

Holy Week is one of the most important periods in Spain’s calendar, drawing thousands to its religious processions, public holidays and family gatherings.

Almost half of Spanish households (48.9%) owned their home outright in 2025, while a further 24.4% were homeowners with an outstanding mortgage, according to the Spanish Statistics Institute (INE).In total, 73.3% of households lived in owner-occupied housing, with or without a mortgage – the lowest

Essential expenses in Spain are taking an ever larger slice of household income, and the latest consumer spending data for 2026 show how sharply the picture changes from one province to another.

Essential costs in Spain are tightening their grip on household finances.

Nearly one in five people in the EU is aged 65 or older, yet in most member states, public pensions are insufficient to cover living costs.A study by German research firm DataPulse compared annual pre-tax public pensions with estimated expenses for those over 65, placing Spain among the few countrie

The Spanish government has unveiled plans for a €200 monthly payment per child under 18, a measure designed to tackle rising child poverty and support struggling families. If approved, the benefit would provide €2,400 per year for every child, regardless of household income — making it one of the most ambitious universal child support schemes in Europe.

Thinking about retiring to Spain? With a laid-back lifestyle, year-round sunshine, and excellent healthcare, Spain continues to attract thousands of British and American expats each year.

Whether you're moving to Spain permanently, buying property, or spending extended periods there, having a local bank account is essential for day-to-day life.

If you are planning to live, work, or invest in Spain, you may have heard the term “Hacienda” and wondered what it means.

If you’ve ever opened a council bill here and wondered what on earth the “tasa de basuras”, or rubbish tax in Spain, actually covers, you’re not alone.

The State Secretary for Employment, Joaquín Pérez Rey, has announced that the government has proposed to the social partners a 3.1% increase in the national minimum wage (SMI) by 2026, raising it to €1,221 per month, paid in 14 instalments and exempt from income tax.

With tighter controls on tax fraud and money laundering, financial institutions and tax authorities are monitoring cash transactions more closely than ever.In this article, we explain how much cash you can deposit, the limits for doing so without justification and how to avoid issues with the Tax Ag

Spain is set to lead economic growth in Europe by 2026, with GDP forecast to rise by 2.1% year on year – 0.9 percentage points above the European average of 1.2%. According to Mastercard Economics’ Economic Outlook 2026 report, this outperformance will be driven by rising immigration and the continued strength of the services sector.

Buying a home in Spain in 2026 can be one of the most exciting financial decisions you make, whether it’s a sun-soaked villa on the Costa del Sol, a modern apartment in Madrid, or a traditional townhome in Valencia.

As of 1 January 2026, the V-16 beacon is mandatory on Spanish roads to signal breakdowns and accidents.

In 2026, Spain will tighten Bizum payment reporting, raise diesel taxes, and extend electric vehicle and energy-efficient home incentives. The Verifactu invoicing system is postponed to 2027, unemployment benefit recipients are exempt from income tax returns, and aid continues for wildfire and flood victims.

The price war to attract new mortgage borrowers has revived an old tactic: flaunting the nominal interest rate (NIR) while burying the annual percentage rate (APR) in the small print.

Tourist accommodations in Málaga will not face a separate waste collection fee. The city council has rejected a distinct system for holiday homes, meaning they will be charged like regular residential properties. The council estimates that waste collection will cost €63 million annually, to be covered by city residents, averaging around €140 per household each year.