Running a UK business from Spain
Aug 5th 2010, 4:38 pm
#1
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 42
Running a UK business from Spain
Hi All,
I own a UK Ltd company. Its 100% web based.
I'm looking to find out the practicalities of attempting to simply up sticks, move to spain (rent) and just get on with work and enjoy the spanish lifestyle..... hopefully with the minimum of paperwork, admin and hassle.
We have no kids yet, no pets. Will get a LHD car upon arrival.
All I need is a nice villa and a broadband connection.
I'm pretty sure its not going to be that simple as theres other considerations like needing a GP etc.
I've read bits about needing to register for a permit to stay and work?
Would someone please be able to give a general overview as to what I'm going to need to arrange and do?
(I'm waiting to hear back from my accountants but you cant beat the experience and advice of those who have actually done it!!)
Thanks, Tom
I own a UK Ltd company. Its 100% web based.
I'm looking to find out the practicalities of attempting to simply up sticks, move to spain (rent) and just get on with work and enjoy the spanish lifestyle..... hopefully with the minimum of paperwork, admin and hassle.
We have no kids yet, no pets. Will get a LHD car upon arrival.
All I need is a nice villa and a broadband connection.
I'm pretty sure its not going to be that simple as theres other considerations like needing a GP etc.
I've read bits about needing to register for a permit to stay and work?
Would someone please be able to give a general overview as to what I'm going to need to arrange and do?
(I'm waiting to hear back from my accountants but you cant beat the experience and advice of those who have actually done it!!)
Thanks, Tom
Aug 5th 2010, 5:06 pm
#2
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 385
Re: Running a UK business from Spain
hi & welcome.
Q a few here come & go with interests in both countries, I am pretty sure that excluding pensioners & kept wives no Brit expat survives entirely on Spanish derived income. If anyone does it would be the first I heard of in 8 years.
Depends how visible the business is, if you can stay off the tax man's radar in Spain you are fine, just insure yr health, post a bit of Spanish income & I doubt anyone will bother you.
Make sure you register as a non resi landlord & post UK earnings as a UK landlord or you lose valuable allowances if you sell or upgrade UK property.
Q a few here come & go with interests in both countries, I am pretty sure that excluding pensioners & kept wives no Brit expat survives entirely on Spanish derived income. If anyone does it would be the first I heard of in 8 years.
Depends how visible the business is, if you can stay off the tax man's radar in Spain you are fine, just insure yr health, post a bit of Spanish income & I doubt anyone will bother you.
Make sure you register as a non resi landlord & post UK earnings as a UK landlord or you lose valuable allowances if you sell or upgrade UK property.
Aug 5th 2010, 5:34 pm
#3
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,101
Re: Running a UK business from Spain
hi & welcome.
Q a few here come & go with interests in both countries, I am pretty sure that excluding pensioners & kept wives no Brit expat survives entirely on Spanish derived income. If anyone does it would be the first I heard of in 8 years.
Depends how visible the business is, if you can stay off the tax man's radar in Spain you are fine, just insure yr health, post a bit of Spanish income & I doubt anyone will bother you.
Make sure you register as a non resi landlord & post UK earnings as a UK landlord or you lose valuable allowances if you sell or upgrade UK property.
Q a few here come & go with interests in both countries, I am pretty sure that excluding pensioners & kept wives no Brit expat survives entirely on Spanish derived income. If anyone does it would be the first I heard of in 8 years.
Depends how visible the business is, if you can stay off the tax man's radar in Spain you are fine, just insure yr health, post a bit of Spanish income & I doubt anyone will bother you.
Make sure you register as a non resi landlord & post UK earnings as a UK landlord or you lose valuable allowances if you sell or upgrade UK property.
Aug 7th 2010, 8:56 am
#6
Not Banned (yet)
Joined: Aug 2008
Location: Madrid
Posts: 6,400
Re: Running a UK business from Spain
Very interesting comparison between`German and spanish entrepreneurs in Spain here:-
http://www.agf.org.uk/cms/upload/pdf...s_and_risk.pdf
http://www.agf.org.uk/cms/upload/pdf...s_and_risk.pdf
• appear to be less likely to use professional business support services when setting up their business, or use them very sparingly and with deep suspicion
• are more likely to set up business in a profession or industry where they have not worked before at home, and which does not capitalise on their skill-sets
• appear to be less well prepared and less knowledgeable about the business systems in their host country before they migrate, assuming wrongly that some form of EU
standardisation applies
• sometimes do not speak Spanish or speak very little Spanish when they relocate, although it is not at all clearly the preserve of one typology or another and there
are exceptions
• appear to have less access to or be less prepared to seek out the help of social networks for business referral and other business purposes than their German
counterparts.
• are more likely to set up business in a profession or industry where they have not worked before at home, and which does not capitalise on their skill-sets
• appear to be less well prepared and less knowledgeable about the business systems in their host country before they migrate, assuming wrongly that some form of EU
standardisation applies
• sometimes do not speak Spanish or speak very little Spanish when they relocate, although it is not at all clearly the preserve of one typology or another and there
are exceptions
• appear to have less access to or be less prepared to seek out the help of social networks for business referral and other business purposes than their German
counterparts.
Aug 7th 2010, 12:48 pm
#7
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 42
Re: Running a UK business from Spain
Thanks. Anyone else?
Aug 7th 2010, 1:01 pm
#8
¿Dónde estoy?
Joined: Jun 2004
Location: my paradise - Jávea
Posts: 13,330
Re: Running a UK business from Spain
all my income is from Spain. but my family wouldn't survive without my OH's from elsewhere
the answers to all your questions can be found on this site, but in a nutshell, if you are EU you don't need a work permit
you need to:
register as resident
get a NIE
sign on the padron
get an accountant to sort out the tax issues
the answers to all your questions can be found on this site, but in a nutshell, if you are EU you don't need a work permit
you need to:
register as resident
get a NIE
sign on the padron
get an accountant to sort out the tax issues
Aug 7th 2010, 1:16 pm
#9
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 42
Re: Running a UK business from Spain
all my income is from Spain. but my family wouldn't survive without my OH's from elsewhere
the answers to all your questions can be found on this site, but in a nutshell, if you are EU you don't need a work permit
you need to:
register as resident
get a NIE
sign on the padron
get an accountant to sort out the tax issues
the answers to all your questions can be found on this site, but in a nutshell, if you are EU you don't need a work permit
you need to:
register as resident
get a NIE
sign on the padron
get an accountant to sort out the tax issues
Thanks for the answers. My accountants just buggered off on hols so trying to do my own research! Thanks
Aug 7th 2010, 1:55 pm
#10
¿Dónde estoy?
Joined: Jun 2004
Location: my paradise - Jávea
Posts: 13,330
Aug 7th 2010, 5:14 pm
#11
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2010
Location: Aracena, Spain
Posts: 84
Re: Running a UK business from Spain
Hi, we just moved my wife's web business here this year, and find that the postal costs are savage - we have had to abandon some popular but heavy lines altogether, and selling her books is a farce - the post office here wants the same price as a book to send it - about 3x the UK rates.
Aug 9th 2010, 4:04 pm
#12
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2009
Location: Mijas Costa, Costa del Sol
Posts: 48
Re: Running a UK business from Spain
It might sound like a stupid answer but make sure you can get a fast internet connection wherever you move too.
I've had many clients who have had a web based business and then found they cant get an ADSL Connection where they have moved to.
If you need any help then let me know. I'm not sure about the rest of Spain but I can tell you where you can get a fast connection in the Costa del Sol (SNIP)
Neil
I've had many clients who have had a web based business and then found they cant get an ADSL Connection where they have moved to.
If you need any help then let me know. I'm not sure about the rest of Spain but I can tell you where you can get a fast connection in the Costa del Sol (SNIP)
Neil
Last edited by Mitzyboy; Aug 9th 2010 at 4:38 pm. Reason: Comment removed, please dont procure for business on the forums :-)
Aug 9th 2010, 4:11 pm
#13
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 42
Re: Running a UK business from Spain
nice plug neil 
In a 5 min call skipping over the topline details my accountants have told me that if I spend under 6 months in a spanish tax year (june to june) i think then theres no need to register as resident.
However if its likely to extend pass that point then registering sooner for residence and getting a NIE for healthcare, cars, mortgages etc is advisable.
However as all of my business is UK focused, all money goes in there and get paid to me from the UK that under the current tax treaties between Spain and UK I'm not required to pay any spanish taxes or contributions etc etc as my UK contributions cover all this...
I'll be chasing this up in more detail..
In a 5 min call skipping over the topline details my accountants have told me that if I spend under 6 months in a spanish tax year (june to june) i think then theres no need to register as resident.
However if its likely to extend pass that point then registering sooner for residence and getting a NIE for healthcare, cars, mortgages etc is advisable.
However as all of my business is UK focused, all money goes in there and get paid to me from the UK that under the current tax treaties between Spain and UK I'm not required to pay any spanish taxes or contributions etc etc as my UK contributions cover all this...
I'll be chasing this up in more detail..
Aug 9th 2010, 4:24 pm
#14
RETIRED ;-))
Joined: Jul 2003
Location: Benalmadena Pueblo,Spain
Posts: 20,156
Re: Running a UK business from Spain
nice plug neil
In a 5 min call skipping over the topline details my accountants have told me that if I spend under 6 months in a spanish tax year (june to june) i think then theres no need to register as resident.
However if its likely to extend pass that point then registering sooner for residence and getting a NIE for healthcare, cars, mortgages etc is advisable.
However as all of my business is UK focused, all money goes in there and get paid to me from the UK that under the current tax treaties between Spain and UK I'm not required to pay any spanish taxes or contributions etc etc as my UK contributions cover all this...
I'll be chasing this up in more detail..
In a 5 min call skipping over the topline details my accountants have told me that if I spend under 6 months in a spanish tax year (june to june) i think then theres no need to register as resident.
However if its likely to extend pass that point then registering sooner for residence and getting a NIE for healthcare, cars, mortgages etc is advisable.
However as all of my business is UK focused, all money goes in there and get paid to me from the UK that under the current tax treaties between Spain and UK I'm not required to pay any spanish taxes or contributions etc etc as my UK contributions cover all this...
I'll be chasing this up in more detail..
You pay tax where you live, not where you work.
If you are in Spain for more than 3 months you have to register at the National Police St and you will be given a residencia certificate.
Your UK health cover will not be valid in Spains health system after a while even if you are still paying a stamp there.
You can`t have the perks of one country while living in another.
Aug 9th 2010, 4:27 pm
#15
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 42
Re: Running a UK business from Spain
You may have a few surprises in store.
You pay tax where you live, not where you work.
If you are in Spain for more than 3 months you have to register at the National Police St and you will be given a residencia certificate.
Your UK health cover will not be valid in Spains health system after a while even if you are still paying a stamp there.
You can`t have the perks of one country while living in another.
You pay tax where you live, not where you work.
If you are in Spain for more than 3 months you have to register at the National Police St and you will be given a residencia certificate.
Your UK health cover will not be valid in Spains health system after a while even if you are still paying a stamp there.
You can`t have the perks of one country while living in another.
I have asked for further written details.