kafkaesque

I'm looking to move to the Barcelona area next year to become self-employed. Will it be necessary to learn some Catalan to cope with all the paperwork? Are tax forms, for example, printed in both spanish and catalan?

Joe King

Barcelona is a wonderful city with lots of opportunities as it is home to many a multi-national. We have spent many a happy time in the city.

The Spanish tax system is different to the UK's and the paperwork can be a nightmare. Since you neither speak the language or know the tax regulations you will need to seek help.

Your best bet will be to use a Gestor to help you fill in your quarterly and annual tax and IVA (VAT) returns. You give them your figures and they do the rest. Saves a lot of headaches.

Will you need to learn Catalan? Well it is a very important part of Catalan cullture and life and if you want to be part of it then yes you will. But not to cope with the paperwork if you use a Gestor (not really an accountant, but along those lines - in short he helps navigate red tape whatever it may be!).

Because so many people come from other parts of Spain to work in Barcelona (as well as elsewhere in the world) Spanish is of course widely spoken. But it is very much the second language there. Even everything at McDonald's is in Catalan and not Spanish!