Apart from that they could not sell up to make the move

Dick has summed it up nicely, the climate, the people, and a two hour journey that takes less time and costs less than a train journey from London to Penzance.

Spain has always had daft bureaucracy, but most sensible people, locals and expats alike, simply ignored it and got on with their happy lives in the sun.

But this dark cloud is simply too big to ignore, though I get the impression from my Spanish friends that they are doing just that.

But I'm aware, for the first time since I came to Spain, that if the postman asks me to sign for a letter, I may be on my way home.

Portugal is offering two years free of tax.

Yes and then what, bearing in mind that they are in much the same boat as Spain ?

Also I think the choice is much more limited in Portugal as compared to Spain, especially as regards to areas with decent climatic conditions.

It might be a bit breezier but there is no cloud of doom above your head.

And Portugal is where we are moving to in 6 weeks time (but for less than 183 days). Have removed our names from the Padron and are in the process of rescinding our residencia. The climate in Portugal may not be as perfect as Spain but it's still much warmer than the UK. On our return to Spain early next year we will be putting our apartment up for sale and will be happy to sell it to the first Russian who makes us a silly offer. Whilst living and spending our pension in Spain we were automatically contributing 21% IVA directly to the government which amounts to something in excess of 3,000 euros over a 12 month period but Spain now wants to get their hands on even more. We've had enough and are voting with our feet and moving out.

I doubt you will be the only ones sadly.

Good luck with your move to Portugal, and just because you leave Spanish soil does not mean that you can´t pop over to the Spain section on BE and keep in touch.

As I said, for now, but after considering the Cyprus route out of the mire and the desperate Spanish attempts also, I don't think anyone can forecast what comes next in Portugal.

Anyway best of luck to the OP making the move and I hope the big black Spanish cloud doesn't blow in your direction.

As Pinkpig will be a renter and a non resident in Portugal, it does not really matter what the government there decide to do.

He/she will be under British tax residency rules.

Best way too, as is now the case with Spain.

A bit tough on those who burnt their bridges, though I appreciate in some cases there was little choice.

Many thanks for your good wishes and those from other posters. I will most certainly be staying in touch and maintaining an interest in how everyone gets through this nightmare. Best of luck to you all.

Anyone hoping that after a year or so of not receiving a summons from hacienda to discuss inconsistencies in their asset declaration means that all is deemed to be in order might want to think again. We purchased our house over 3 years ago and foolishly handed over the 10,500 euro purchase tax to the estate agent ( cant name them here but will be more than happy to via PM) who provided paperwork to indicate that he had passed the tax on to Agencia triburaria. It took Agencia tributaria exactly 3 years to inform us that they had never received the mod 600 forms or the tax. We recently employed an assessor to obtain fresh 600 forms and paid the tax again (this time, directly to the tax office). The reason for my post is to inform readers that even when the assessor applied for a Notaire Simple (to check for debts and other charges against the property), there was still no indication that the original tax had not been paid. This means that at any time during the last 3 years, we could have (in all good faith), sold our house to someone who would have one day, received the bolt out of the blue that we received. Employing a solicitor, gestor, assessor etc etc would still not have shown any record of the unpaid tax. My faith in the competance of the administration in Spain has been severely dented and I feel that even 20 years without a call from Hacianda about an incorrectly completed mod 720 would not convince me that there wasnt the possibility of a summons / fine somewhere out tere with my name on it.

Paranoia strikes again.

But the post above yours isn't paranoia it is an actual hard factual case, someone speaking from experience of what has actually happened to them.

Paranoia is worrying about something that hasn't yet happened not something that has !