Prepare the first conversation
Bring a short fact pattern, not a tax conclusion.
- Map the countriesNote where you live now, where you expect to live and the date you expect the move to happen.
- List the income typesName the broad categories you receive or expect to receive, without adding account numbers or full statements.
- Flag planned transactionsIdentify decisions you are considering and their expected timing, without assuming the tax outcome.
- Agree the professional scopeIf individual tax advice is needed, confirm the qualified provider, scope, secure document channel and cost before proceeding.
Do not send tax returns, account statements, asset schedules, tax identifiers or medical information through the general contact form.
Tax residence is more than a day count
Spanish domestic rules include presence for more than 183 days in the calendar year and the centre of economic interests, with additional presumptions and treaty considerations. Do not decide your position from a travel calendar alone. Obtain advice using the facts in both countries.
Reference: BOE · Personal Income Tax Act ↗
Build a cross-border fact sheet
Give a tax professional a factual list of what will continue in your previous country and what will change in Spain. Include timing as well as amounts.
- Days spent in each country and expected moving date.
- Employment, business activities and where work is performed.
- Pensions, investments, rental income and property.
- Family location and continuing economic connections.
- Previous filings, tax-residence certificates and relevant account records.
Ask about transactions before making them
The timing of a property sale, pension withdrawal or policy surrender can matter. Ask how the relevant treaty and domestic rules interact, whether foreign tax can be credited, and which reporting obligations apply to your specific assets. This guide does not estimate your liability.
Turn advice into an annual routine
Ask for a written action list covering registrations, records and deadlines that apply to you. Keep healthcare and residence evidence separately from tax paperwork. Revisit the plan when employment, family circumstances, property ownership or residence changes.
Your questions, answered
Does a residence card decide my tax residence?
No. Immigration status and tax residence are assessed under different rules.
Are foreign pensions always taxed in the same country?
No. Pension type, residence and the applicable treaty can affect the result.
Should I upload tax returns through the form?
No. Use the form to request a conversation; arrange a suitable secure channel for detailed documents.
Your next step
Organise the right first conversation.
Share the basic facts about your planned move and the questions you need to organise. If individual tax advice is needed, the qualified provider and scope must be clear before you proceed.
Request a free initial conversationSources and review status
The editorial team checked the following primary sources on 9 September 2026. No tax professional review is claimed for this editorial revision. Check the current instructions of the office handling your application before making a commitment.
Our editorial approach