The full guide
Tax: your last year in Spain
Spain taxes residents on worldwide income for the whole calendar year if they spent more than 183 days in Spain that year. Leaving mid-year doesn’t automatically end your Spanish tax residence for that year. Tell the Tax Agency your new address and status, and plan to file a final Renta the following spring if you were resident. If you keep property in Spain, you’ll file as a non-resident from then on.
People with very large shareholdings may face an exit tax; take advice if that could apply to you.
Housing and deposit
| Task | Notes |
|---|---|
| Notice | Long-term tenants can usually leave after six months with 30 days’ notice |
| Inspection | Walk through with the landlord and sign a condition report |
| Deposit | The landlord has a month after you return the keys to refund it or justify deductions |
| Utilities | Take final readings and cancel or transfer each account |
See getting your deposit back.
Paperwork to close
| What | How |
|---|---|
| Padrón | Request deregistration at the town hall, or it happens when you register abroad |
| Autónomo activity | Deregister from social security (RETA) and file form 036 with Hacienda |
| Bank account | Close it, or switch to a non-resident account |
| Phone and internet | Check permanencia tie-ins before cancelling |
| Subscriptions and insurance | Cancel in writing and keep confirmations |
| Car | Sell, transfer or export through the DGT |
Records to keep
Download your vida laboral (social security work history), tax returns and certificates, padrón history and residence documents. They matter for future pensions, tax questions and proving past residence.
Frequently asked questions
Will my Spanish pension contributions be lost?
No. Contributions are recorded and can count towards a Spanish pension later, or be combined with other EU countries’ records, and under agreements with the UK and US.
Can I keep my Spanish bank account?
Usually yes, as a non-resident account, though fees may be higher.
What happens to my residence card?
Temporary residence ends if you live abroad for long periods. If you might return, check how long you can be away before losing your status.
