Operating a company in Spain requires compliance with tax, accounting, and invoicing rules from the start of operations.
• Spanish tax system: three levels—state (VAT, corporate income tax, withholdings, informative returns), regional (transfer/stamp taxes), and local (business activity, property tax). Electronic filing with a digital certificate is effectively compulsory. • VAT: charged for B2B in Spain; intra-EU uses reverse charge and ROI registration; non-EU imports/exports require EORI. E-commerce VAT applies in the consumer’s country under One Stop Shop. Deferred import regime improves cash flow. • Corporate income tax: resident companies taxed on worldwide income; foreign companies taxed on Spanish profits. Deductible expenses include personnel, rent, professional services, and asset depreciation. Rates for 2025–2029: micro-enterprises €1m revenue 17–20%, small companies €10m revenue 20–24%. Newly created companies: 15% for first two profitable years (exceptions apply). Payments may be split in April, October, December. Prior-year losses can offset future profits. • Form 036 registration: mandatory for new companies and any changes in address, directors, or activity. Communications via DEHú electronic mailbox start deadlines upon delivery. • Accounting: follow Spanish GAAP/Plan General Contable; annual accounts include balance sheet, P&L, notes, and optionally cash flow and equity statements. Submit accounting books yearly. Verifacto (from Jan 2026) links invoices to the tax agency; compliant software options include Odoo and Holded. • Corporate governance: prepare annual accounts within 3 months, present to shareholders within 6 months, file within 1 month. Hold at least one ordinary shareholders’ meeting; extraordinary meetings for major decisions. Mandatory audit if thresholds exceeded: €2.85m assets, €5.7m turnover, >50 employees. • Financial management: monitor cash flow, liquidity, profitability, leverage, and efficiency indicators. Depreciation planning optimizes taxes and investment. Companies can carry multiple activities; different VAT treatment may apply.
Takeaway: Spanish companies must maintain continuous compliance with tax, accounting, and corporate obligations, monitor electronic communications, adopt Verifacto-compliant invoicing, and manage cash flow effectively to avoid penalties and support sustainable growth.
