accountant autonomo healthcare national insurance pension self-employed spain spanish tax a
Being self-employed in Spain can be an expensive affair.
Just recently we changed our tax status from UK self-employed to Spanish autonomo and it has not been easy!
What came as a big shock was the cost of national insurance contributions in Spain, these come to 240 euros a month and that is EACH. (This works out at £400 a month). In the UK national insurance is around ten quid a month!For this you are entitled to state healthcare, medical treatment, prescription drugs and a state pension.
My husband has a number of clients and is the main breadwinner but what really surprised me was that even though I work part-time I still have to pay the same amount as my husband, there are no reductions.
On top of that you have to pay your Income Tax and pay an accountant or gestor* to sort your invoices and expenses.
In Spain you have to declare your earnings every three months to the local Tax Office, you can do this by yourself, however it is often better to get someone with a good command of Spanish because if there are any problems there could be no end of complications (this is best done by your financial advisor).
Living and working in Spain should not be undertaken lightly. If you are determined to make a go of living and working here, be aware that it can be hard work, that it can cost you more than you think and always take professional advice.
In spite of all this, I am still glad that we made the move to Spain and even if it is difficult at times, we still have a better quality of life.
* A gestor is an expert in Spanish bureaucracy and acts as a facilitator for his client.
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