Last Updated on March 18, 2026 by Bruno Bianchi
Question
If I move to Spain in December after my visa approval, do I need to pay taxes in Spain for the entire year or only for the month of December?
Answers
These are the answers of some Facebook group members:
”Better to start Autonomo in January 2024. You must register as autonomo before starting your economic activity in Spain. So you can come in December, take a holiday and officially start work in Jan”
”self-employed Autonomo”
”Just start your Autónomo as of 1.1.2024 and assuming you haven’t spent more than 183 days total in Spain in 2023, you will only start paying tax in 2024”
Planning your move to Spain?
Get the free step-by-step roadmap used by 10,000+ expats — covering visas, budget, housing, and the mistakes to avoid.
Start the Moving to Spain Hub →Conclusion
In conclusion, according to Spainguru Facebook group members, if you move to Spain in December after visa approval and plan to work as a self-employed individual (Autónomo), it’s advisable to register starting in January of the following year.
This ensures that you only pay taxes from that point onward, provided you haven’t spent more than 183 days in Spain in the previous tax year, and allows you to enjoy a holiday in December.
Get your free step-by-step Spain move plan
10 emails over 2 weeks covering visas, budget, housing & the mistakes to avoid.
Join 10,000+ expats who used this roadmap.
100% free · No credit card · Unsubscribe anytime
