Spanish Tax System: Key Obligations and Accrual Dates

Posted on Apr 5, 2026 in Accounting and Finance

Spanish Tax System: Obligations and Accrual

Income Tax

  • Taxable Event: Worldwide income obtained by individuals.
  • Taxpayer: Spain resident individuals.
  • Accrual: December 31.

Corporation Tax

  • Taxable Event: Worldwide income obtained by companies.
  • Taxpayer: Spain resident companies.
  • Accrual: Last day of the tax year.

Non-Resident Income Tax

  • Taxable Event: Income obtained in Spain by non-resident individuals or companies.
  • Taxpayer: Non-resident individuals or companies.
  • Accrual: Depends on whether operations are carried out through a Permanent Establishment (PE) in Spain.

Wealth Tax

  • Taxable Event: Worldwide assets owned by individuals.
  • Taxpayer: The owner (Spain resident individuals).
  • Accrual: December 31.

Gift and Inheritance Tax

  • Taxable Event: Gift Tax (inter vivos acquisition), Inheritance Tax (mortis causa acquisition), and Life Insurance.
  • Taxpayer: Donee, successor in title, or beneficiary.
  • Accrual: Date of gift or date of death.

Transfer Tax

  • Taxable Event: Transfers not taxed by VAT.
  • Taxpayer: Acquirer.
  • Accrual: Date of transmission.

Value Added Tax (VAT)

  • Taxable Event: Supply of goods and services.
  • Taxpayer: The person carrying out an economic activity.
  • Accrual: Date of supply of goods or services.

Excise Tax

  • Taxable Event: Alcohol, spirits, tobacco, hydrocarbons, electric power, and coal.
  • Taxpayer: Producer or importer.
  • Accrual: Date of supply.

Insurance Premiums Tax

  • Taxable Event: Insurance premiums.
  • Taxpayer: Insurance companies.
  • Accrual: Date of payment of premiums.

Tax on Bank Deposits

  • Taxable Event: Deposits created by credit institutions.
  • Taxpayer: Credit institutions and branches of non-resident entities.
  • Accrual: Last day of the tax year.

Special Tax on Lottery Prizes

  • Taxable Event: Prizes obtained from organized lotteries.
  • Taxpayer: The winner (individuals or companies).
  • Accrual: Date of collection of the prize.

Nuclear Waste Storage Tax

  • Taxable Event: Storage of spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste in centralized installations.
  • Taxpayer: Owners of the installation.
  • Accrual: Last day of the tax year.

Tax on Electric Energy Production

  • Taxable Event: Production of electric energy.
  • Taxpayer: Producers of electric energy.
  • Accrual: Last day of the tax year.

Tax on Nuclear Fuel Production

  • Taxable Event: Production of spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste from nucleoelectric energy generation.
  • Taxpayer: Producers of spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste.
  • Accrual: Last day of the tax year (cycle of operation of each reactor).

Tax on Business Activities

  • Taxable Event: Performance of business activity.
  • Taxpayer: The person carrying out the activity.
  • Accrual: January 1st or beginning of the activity.

Tax on Real Estate

  • Taxable Event: Ownership of a building.
  • Taxpayer: The owner.
  • Accrual: January 1st.

Tax on Vehicles

  • Taxable Event: Ownership of vehicles.
  • Taxpayer: The owner.
  • Accrual: January 1st or day of acquisition.

Tax on Increase in Urban Land Value

  • Taxable Event: Transfer of urban land or buildings.
  • Taxpayer: Acquirer (free of charge) or transferor (regular business).
  • Accrual: When the transfer takes place.

Tax on Building Works

  • Taxable Event: Construction or installation based on budgeted cost.
  • Taxpayer: Owner of the works (substitute: permit applicant).
  • Accrual: Beginning of the works.