Declaring International Income While Living in Spain: A Complete Guide

So you’re living your best life in Spain—sipping café con leche and enjoying the sun—but your income comes from outside the country. Whether you’re freelancing for a company abroad, renting out property overseas, or earning investment income, you need to know how to file taxes for international income. In this guide, we’ll explain what is foreign income tax in Spain and how to go about declaring international income without stress.

What is foreign income tax in Spain?

If you’re a tax resident in Spain, you’re required to declare and pay taxes on your worldwide income—yes, even if that money was earned elsewhere.

👉 This includes:

• A salary from a foreign employer
• Freelance income from clients abroad
• Rental income from a house in another country
• Dividends or interests from foreign bank accounts

📌 Spain applies a progressive tax rate, from around 19% to 47%, depending on your total income.

Who must declare international income?

If you meet any of the following, Spain likely considers you a tax resident:

• You spend more than 183 days per year in Spain
• Your main economic interests (business, investments, family) are in Spain

As a tax resident, you’re obligated to report and pay taxes on all your income, whether it comes from Madrid or Melbourne.

⚠️ Don’t confuse tax residence with legal residence (your residency card). They’re related but not the same.

How to file taxes for international income in Spain

Filing your Declaración de la Renta in Spain with foreign income? Here’s your step-by-step:

1. Confirm your tax residence status

If you live in Spain most of the year, you’re probably a tax resident. This means Spain taxes your global income.

2. Gather your foreign income records

Have everything ready:

• Payslips or invoices from abroad
• Proof of tax paid in the other country (if any)
• Rental contracts, dividends, or bank statements

🧾 All income must be converted to euros using official exchange rates.

3. Fill out the Modelo 100

This is Spain’s standard income tax return form. You’ll include:

• Your Spanish income (if any)
• Your foreign income, broken down by type
• Tax already paid abroad (to claim deductions)

You’ll do this usually between April and June each year.

Can I avoid double taxation?

Yes, Spain has double taxation agreements (DTA) with many countries. These treaties prevent you from paying tax twice on the same income.

There are two main tools:

• Tax credit: You subtract the tax already paid abroad from what you owe in Spain.
• Exemption: In some cases, Spain won’t tax the income again.

📄 Example: You earn €20,000 from a job in France and paid €3,000 in French taxes. Spain would credit you those €3,000 when calculating your final tax bill.

Declaring international income examples

Let’s look at two real-world situations:

1. Freelancing for a U.S. company

• You live in Valencia and earn $30,000 from a U.S. client.
• The U.S. doesn’t withhold tax because you’re not a U.S. resident.
• You declare the €-converted income in Spain.
• You pay Spanish IRPF (Income Tax) on the full amount.

2. Renting out property in the UK

• You earn £6,000/year in rental income.
• You pay 20% tax in the UK = £1,200.
• Spain taxes you again, but you deduct that £1,200 under the DTA.
• You only pay the difference if Spanish tax is higher.

Do I need to report foreign bank accounts?

Yes! If you hold more than €50,000 in accounts, investments, or property abroad, you must submit Modelo 720. It’s not a tax declaration, but an informative form.

⚠️ Failing to declare can result in hefty fines—even if your accounts are 100% legal.

Filing a tax return is like going to the dentist: you know it’s going to hurt, but at least you hope they leave you with a tax smile at the end.

Income Tax Return Process with Foreign Income

Spain doesn’t play around when it comes to taxes—especially with income from tax havens, where exemptions don’t apply.

If you earn income from abroad, the key question is:
Does the source country have a tax system similar to Spain’s IRPF?
If not, you might still benefit from the excess regime, which helps you avoid overpaying on income that exceeds a certain threshold.

Although you can use Renta Web, the process is often confusing and incomplete—Hacienda doesn’t automatically apply all your deductions or special cases.

✅ There’s an easier way:

You can file your income tax return entirely online in just a few steps:

1. Register here.
2. Answer a few questions—takes less than 15 minutes.
3. Get your tax result for free.
4. Want expert review and filing? Choose a plan and let us handle it.

It’s that simple.
✅ Stay compliant. ✅ Avoid surprises. ✅ Pay just the right amount.

Conclusion

In short, if you want to make sure your tax return is correct, without missing out on any tax benefits and avoiding mistakes that could cost you money, TaxDown is a wise choice – let the experts take care of the numbers while you enjoy the peace of mind knowing your taxes are in good hands!