Residency / Citizenship in another EU country - How easy or hard?

[Snowbird]

My accountant is top notch and with all due respect, probably knows more about it than you. I have no Spanish income to pay tax on.

As you stated "They are not to bothered as long as you pay tax somewhere". This definitely is not so. As I stated, you cannot pay taxes in one EU country on moneys earned in another member state. I do know this, believe me .

 

[Yorick]

Once resident in Spain you pay all tax in Spain EXCEPT for a GB Government (employed) pension, where you still pay tax in the UK, ie Police, Fire Service, Local Government Officer, etc.

Not for my first year. I'm going to believe her, rather than a stranger on the internet.

 

[busby]

As the (Spanish) guy on a campsite at Valencia said "they come over here, and after 10 years they can say: "dos cervezas, por favor" ... and that's it.

Thats me and many others,,,Been getting by for years now though ,,,BUSBY,

Lol I've been doing highschool classes since the start of February and have a cd learning kit too plus duolingo on my phone

I'm learning but I won't say it's easy ...i can say things but understanding it when someone speaks back is often difficult as it's a very fast language

I'm hoping once I'm over there and using it more that it will become easier

Problem with Spain is Basque,,Catalan,,Valencian etc etc but it must help if you have a bit of basic Spanish,,BUSBY,,Think i am to old now,,

 

[busby]

Nothing like having a go the ones who only can order the beers sit with their expat mates all day and don't make the effort.

I aint got no ex pat mates,,,BUSBY

 

[Jim]

I understood that if you were in Spain for more that 183 days then you had to pay tax on your worldwide earnings in Spain. But that was a while ago maybe things have changed.

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[Northernraider]

Thats me and many others,,,Been getting by for years now though ,,,BUSBY,


Problem with Spain is Basque,,Catalan,,Valencian etc etc but it must help if you have a bit of basic Spanish,,BUSBY,,Think i am to old now,,

I figure it can't hurt anyway.....i think immersion is the best way to learn so here's hoping

 

[jumartoo]

I understood that if you were in Spain for more that 183 days then you had to pay tax on your worldwide earnings in Spain. But that was a while ago maybe things have changed.

No that's still the case except for British Government Pensions.

 

[Geejay]

Re the Valencian campsite guy, he pretended to be unable to speak English until he heard us speaking a little bit Spanish. I think his point was, that if you go and live in a foreign country it's incumbent on you to learn the language. And I agree. Otherwise it's colonialism. That's why they call themselves expats and not immigrants. Never heard the English complaining about immigrants to the UK unable to speak the language?

 

[Northernraider]

Re the Valencian campsite guy, he pretended to be unable to speak English until he heard us speaking a little bit Spanish. I think his point was, that if you go and live in a foreign country it's incumbent on you to learn the language. And I agree. Otherwise it's colonialism. That's why they call themselves expats and not immigrants. Never heard the English complaining about immigrants to the UK unable to speak the language?

Couldn't agree more

 

[busby]

Re the Valencian campsite guy, he pretended to be unable to speak English until he heard us speaking a little bit Spanish. I think his point was, that if you go and live in a foreign country it's incumbent on you to learn the language. And I agree. Otherwise it's colonialism. That's why they call themselves expats and not immigrants. Never heard the English complaining about immigrants to the UK unable to speak the language?

I have all the time,,,,one of the biggest gripes,,BUSBY..

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[Teuchter]

Nothing like having a go the ones who only can order the beers sit with their expat mates all day and don't make the effort.

I went into a beach side bar in Cantal de Mojacar one time and asked for " una cana por favor" (pronounced canya) and the barmaid/landlady replied frostily in "Manc" English "we don't sell canas in here only pints or half pints" and I looked around and saw not one Spaniard in there - all expats playing darts & drinking pints!

Another time in nice a bar/restaurant just outside the gates of Camping Cuevas Mar run by a two Eastern European women, it was full of expat long term "subbies" all moaning about how tough it was there but all saying they would never return to work in the UK because of the tax regime!!

Reading my post anyone would think that I spend a lot of time in Spanish bars!

I do!!

 

[gus-lopez]

Yes it is too simple, because if one is already in another country based on the 'freedom of movement rules', but not on 'residency' and the rules change for UK citizens, then one is in a situation where one could not have found out those rules in advance.

I have discovered that where I am now I cannot get 'Residency' for two years, even if I applied now. Even then it would not allow me to travel into another Schengen/EU country for more than 90 days, so would not replicate the 'freedom of movement' that I have now.

Geoff

You could marry said lady.Solve the problem

My brain has been ticking overnight so I wondered.
If I was to land in Santander 13th Jan and spend till end of March in east and south Spain, would then entering Gibraltar restart the clock and allow me 90 days in gran canaria? And then because I'm doing Portugal on the return trip and possibly a few weeks to a month in northern Spain before back to UK....am I likely to encounter problems?

Don't worry about it.

]


But you will be given time to find out the new rules. There will be time to become legal or the international courts will become very busy.



I understand that 90 days is the maximum continuous length of time you can stay in a country before you have to register as a resident - and the 90 days can be reset by leaving the country and re-entering. The 183 days is a tax thing and is 183 days in a year. It used to be a tax year but may now be a running calendar year but I would have to check on those rules. I've never bothered as they don't affect me, if they were likely to do so I would check

No here in spain the tax year is the same as a calendar year , unlike the Uk

Am not sure about this as it has never affected me as I fly home less than the 90 day limit for medical insurance reasons, but am pretty sure that if you are a state pensioner and stay outside the UK for over a certain time you must inform the pension service as you are classed as though you have emigrated and your pension is frozen so no annual increases. Also, your right to NHS treatment ends, and your doctor strikes you off there register. Do not think they do not know how long you have been out of the UK as your passport is scanned both ends now.

Correct but rarely happens.

It's very confusing
If I manage to get a job there which I believe means I need residency to do that then how does that affect me with my motorhome as it will be foreign registered

Worry about it when the time comes

That's not quite true. I am a resident now, and my Spanish accountant says I have to do a UK tax return in early 2018. They aren't too bothered as long as you are paying tax somewhere.

depends when you became a 'resident'?
After 4/5th July this year then you aren't a spanish tax resident until next year.That means your first spanish return would be in June the following year after a complete tax year in 2018
Always bear in mind though that the accountant ,like German ones, has no responsibility in law . Anything they do, whether not paying your tax/vat whatever, is your responsibility not theirs.Anything they do ,not paying tax, vat whatever is your responsibility & you would have foot the bill & pay the fines & have to make a denuncia to get criminal action against them as otherwise it would only be civil.

I have a question. I have now learned that I can't legally drive my camper here now. But can I drive a UK vehicle in UK ?

Yes no problem anywhere else it is just in the country in which you are resident.
As soon as you get in France with the UK vehicle , even with a spanish licence, you become legal again same in Uk. Although if you have a spanish llicence then an alert traffic copper might wonder what you are doing driving a UK plated vehicle that you own on a spanish licence & want you to change it.

 

[Freespirit1]

I'm high jacking thread Chris to wish you a happy new year x Jan & Mike .

Ah! Beach boy and Jan - good to hear from you too - happy new year to you both too - x for you Jan - ok x for you too Beachboy lol

 

[Freespirit1]

I figure it can't hurt anyway.....i think immersion is the best way to learn so here's hoping

Ummmm - that’s the way I’m thinking too with my Spanish girlfriend - she no English me no Spanish but the immersion is great!!!

 

[ianthebuilder]

One for our ex pat Funsters here please?

Can you tell us how easy or hard it is to get Residency or Citizenship it another EU country other than the U.K.

Would you as residents/ dual citizens benefit from the Travel and freedom of movement you have now as EU residents / citizens in dual EU countries when the U.K. leaves the EU?

I understand that if when we travel to somewhere like Spain we overstay the 183 days we automatically are then considered as residents by that country - is this correct? If so what are the implications - I also understand that should we be driving a U.K. registered vehicle we can continue to drive that vehicle on Spanish roads as long as it is legal in the U.K. - that is : it has valid mot, road tax, and valid insurance. Therefore the vehicle would only become illegal to drive when any one of those requirements runs out.

Many thanks in anticipation of some sound advice and maybe we could all (including me) refrain from encouraging Remain / Leave the EU debate!

Couldn't you drive to Gibraltar for an mot????
Or is that not valid?

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[Freespirit1]

Couldn't you drive to Gibraltar for an mot????
Or is that not valid?

No - you can only get U.K. mot In U.K.

 

[klaatu]

Couldn't you drive to Gibraltar for an mot????
Or is that not valid?

No, because it’s not part of the United Kingdom.

 

[The Nomad]

Couldn't you drive to Gibraltar for an mot????
Or is that not valid?

No you cannot.
They only do Gibraltar version of MOT; and only for Vehicles registered in Gibraltar.
To get an MOT test done on a British registered vehicle you have to attend a DOT registered MOT station, in Britain.

 

[Minxy]

Si yo appriendo hablar espanol...pero mi no fluente

I just misread that ... I mixed up perros for pero ... brings a whole new meaning to it!

 

[Northernraider]

I just misread that ... I mixed up perros for pero ... brings a whole new meaning to it!

Yes nae dugs

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[busby]

I would think that if you are spending long periods away from the UK travelling in Europe the best thing to own would be a German reg motorhome,,Very central for touring the whole of Europe and easy to return to for annual vehicle testing,,BUSBY.

 

[Minxy]

Change your accountant, he does not know what he is talking about. If you earn money in Spain, you pay taxes in Spain on those earnings. If you earn money in the UK, you pay UK taxes on them separately. You do NOT pay UK taxes on moneys earned outside the UK.

Not for my first year. I'm going to believe her, rather than a stranger on the internet.

You might both be right as it will likely depend on WHERE the income was earned and WHEN, ie what UK tax year it is for - eg I'm currently doing my UK 2016-17 tax return which is due by the end of January 2018

It could also depend on the last date you were classed as a UK resident/when you became a Spanish resident.

Could it be that the tax return your accountant is talking about is a UK one to be submitted by the end of January 2019 but which relates to 2017-18?

 

[gus-lopez]

I would think that if you are spending long periods away from the UK travelling in Europe the best thing to own would be a German reg motorhome,,Very central for touring the whole of Europe and easy to return to for annual vehicle testing,,BUSBY.

Ok if you have a friend or relative witha German address.

 

[Snowbird]

You might both be right as it will likely depend on WHERE the income was earned and WHEN, ie what UK tax year it is for - eg I'm currently doing my UK 2016-17 tax return which is due by the end of January 2018

It could also depend on the last date you were classed as a UK resident/when you became a Spanish resident.

Could it be that the tax return your accountant is talking about is a UK one to be submitted by the end of January 2019 but which relates to 2017-18?

The "family" has business interests in the UK, France, Germany and Bulgaria. Although few live in the UK they have interests here that tax has to be paid on. They cannot be expected to pay tax on UK income to another EU member state and also pay tax on income in that member state. So, they have there UK tax allowance in the UK and pay tax on profit above there tax allowance. The same applies in the country of residence. The bonus is that they get two personal tax allowances, one for the UK and one for country of residence. Being an expat is a very complicated affair if you are still earning and want to do things correctly.

 

[Minxy]

Change your accountant, he does not know what he is talking about. If you earn money in Spain, you pay taxes in Spain on those earnings. If you earn money in the UK, you pay UK taxes on them separately. You do NOT pay UK taxes on moneys earned outside the UK.

The "family" has business interests in the UK, France, Germany and Bulgaria. Although few live in the UK they have interests here that tax has to be paid on. They cannot be expected to pay tax on UK income to another EU member state and also pay tax on income in that member state. So, they have there UK tax allowance in the UK and pay tax on profit above there tax allowance. The same applies in the country of residence. The bonus is that they get two personal tax allowances, one for the UK and one for country of residence. Being an expat is a very complicated affair if you are still earning and want to do things correctly.

I'm just trying to understand the reason for Yorick being told he will need to do a UK tax return in 2018 ... I assume it is for income earned whilst he was still classed as a UK tax resident.

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[Yorick]

Folk keep quoting me, but I will not reply.

If my tax payments are wrong, I can tell the taxman I got advice from my Spanish accountant and will be OK

If my tax payments are wrong and say I got advice from Funsters, I will be banged up.

I've had amazing help and advice on here over the years, but if you're poorly, you see doctor, not ask a stranger on the internet.

Gracia

 

[Minxy]

Folk keep quoting me, but I will not reply.

If my tax payments are wrong, I can tell the taxman I got advice from my Spanish accountant and will be OK

If my tax payments are wrong and say I got advice from Funsters, I will be banged up.

I've had amazing help and advice on here over the years, but if you're poorly, you see doctor, not ask a stranger on the internet.

Gracia

No problem chuck, just trying to work out why you were told that, that's all, we haven't got the details of where the income was earned and where you were 'resident' at the time so just trying to knit fog really!

 

[Snowbird]

Folk keep quoting me, but I will not reply.

If my tax payments are wrong, I can tell the taxman I got advice from my Spanish accountant and will be OK

If my tax payments are wrong and say I got advice from Funsters, I will be banged up.

I've had amazing help and advice on here over the years, but if you're poorly, you see doctor, not ask a stranger on the internet.

Gracia

A misconception made by many am afraid. Spanish "accountants" are not accountable to Spanish revenue, you are.

 

[Yorick]

A misconception made by many am afraid. Spanish "accountants" are not accountable to Spanish revenue, you are.

Please stop quoting me, it's becoming annoying. Just worry about your own life.

 

[The Wino]

I thought I was accountable not my accountant in the UK too or am I wrong?

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