residency cost

[dave c]

Hi all,
As the day of reckoning draws ever closer we are considering taking out residency and moving out permanently to Spain.
The only thing is, would we be better off tax wise than in the uK?
I have an allowance of £12500 then pay 20% in UK
Is it similar in Spain?
Also what are the costs ( solicitors ) to do applications?
TIA
P.S. I'm pension age, partner under.

[elcarretero]

Without knowing your personal circumstances the only answers you will get are going to be very general.
To pay someone to do all your residency paperwork would cost between 50 and 100 euros each.
The tax allowances in Spain are such that if you are receiving the equivalent of a UK old age pension, you will pay no tax. Anything over that and you will pay tax starting at 19%.
The overall cost of living, some things are cheaper, some things are dearer, in Spain is marginally less than UK. If you smoke and drink then you will be better off in Spain than UK, if not then less so.
The quality of life in Spain is a big plus though, especially if you are retired. If not retired then I'm afraid work is hard to come by and very poorly paid if you do not speak fluent Spanish.
The best thing you could do is try it out for a month or two with a rental property and try to live as a resident rather than a holiday maker.

[Lincoln45]

Have a read of the following link

https://www.expertsforexpats.com/expat- ... or-expats/

[dave c]

Thanks for that, a good link.
We have a holiday home already so know the basics. It seems a bit complicated regarding residencia and tax etc. and we will probably be worse off tax wise so it will soon be decision time!
A better option for us would probably be to sell up - then rent a place for 2/3 months at a time, as long as we don't go over the 183 days.

[elcarretero]

If you are not resident in Spain, after 31 December 2020, you will only be able to stay in Spain for 90 days in any 180. This means if you stay for 3 months you will have to return to UK for 3 months before you can come back to Spain. This 90 days in Spain does not include the time you spend in France if you are driving to Spain, so if it takes you 2 days to drive from Calais to Spain, you can only spend 86 days in Spain, and then 2 days in France for the return drive.

[paulja]

This 90 days in Spain does not include the time you spend in France if you are driving to Spain, so if it takes you 2 days to drive from Calais to Spain, you can only spend 86 days in Spain, and then 2 days in France for the return drive.

That makes no sense as the second part of the sentence contradicts the first part.
Its 90 days in Spain. You could then spend 90 in France and then back to Spain.
Unless the 90 days applies to the EU as a whole, which i believe it does not.
That is why it says 90 days in Spain and not 90 days in the EU.

[Bee]

My reading is as a non-EU citizen you get an EU Visa and once you step into the first EU country your 90 days starts ticking. You can't have 90 days in each EU country. Once your 90 days are up you must leave.

Bee

[Lincoln45]

The 90 days applies to the Schengen area as a whole, not just one country.

Not only that, you will have to apply on line after the transition period for permission to enter the Schengen area. its known as Etias, European Travel Information and Authorisation System. It was supposed to be ready by 2021, but is now due to be implemented in 2022.

Get an Irish passport!

[freddo]

Have a read of the following link

https://www.expertsforexpats.com/expat- ... or-expats/

That link does not mention that you can also claim a 2000 euros allowance to offset against any tax

[Lincoln45]

What is this €2000 allowance not mentioned?