Beckham Law Spain Lawyers for Impatriates | Pérez Parras Economists & Lawyers

Moving to Spain for work —or to start a business or work remotely— has an immediate tax impact. If you are looking for Beckham Law Spain lawyers for impatriates, start with the basics: there is no “automatic right” to the regime, but a tax election with requirements and documentary proof. The so‑called “Beckham Law” (technically, Spain’s special impatriate tax regime) can be highly advantageous for certain profiles… but it is also one of the regimes with the highest number of filing mistakes and “surprises” when the Spanish Tax Agency cross‑checks data.

At Pérez Parras Economists & Lawyers (Málaga and Nerja), we advise professionals relocating to Spain and their families nationwide, combining legal and tax expertise: eligibility, documentation, filing, and technical defence if the Tax Agency requests explanations.

Key idea: it is not an “automatic benefit” for being foreign or having a visa; it is a tax election with requirements and evidence.

Beckham Law Spain lawyers for impatriates: what the special tax regime is (Art. 93 Spanish IRPF Law)

Beckham Law Spain lawyers for impatriates: why legal‑tax “fit” matters more than the promise of a flat rate

Most Beckham Law issues are not caused by the rate itself, but by facts, deadlines and documentation (real contract, real relocation, payroll reporting, withholdings, etc.). That is why proper advice does not start with the annual return, but with planning and evidence from day one.

What the Beckham Law is (special impatriate tax regime)

In certain cases, the special regime allows a person who relocates to Spain and becomes tax resident here to be taxed under rules similar to the Spanish Non‑Resident Income Tax (NRIT), during the year of the change of residence and the five following tax years.

In practical terms, it may mean:

• Simplification and a flat rate on certain employment income (up to specific thresholds).
• A system generally focused on Spain‑source income, with relevant nuances.
• Greater predictability when properly designed from the outset.

Since 2023, the regime has been expanded to include new groups (e.g., certain remote workers, highly qualified profiles, entrepreneurship, etc.) and, in specific cases, to allow the election also for part of the family unit.

Who usually benefits (and who usually gets it wrong)

There is no single “ideal profile”, but there are clear patterns.

Relocating to Spain: common profiles and frequent pitfalls.

Typical profiles with a strong fit

• Executives and middle management transferred by multinational groups.
• Engineers, tech profiles and highly qualified professionals hired by Spanish companies.
• International remote workers who change their tax residence to Spain under an appropriate immigration/work framework.
• Entrepreneurs and investors in specific scenarios, properly documented.

Profiles with higher risk if not analysed properly

• Those who “come to try it out” without clearly defining centre of interests and family situation.
• Those who mix their arrival with corporate structures lacking real economic coherence.
• Those who confuse immigration residence (permit/TIE) with tax residence.

Key requirements, by Beckham Law Spain lawyers for impatriates

When assessing real eligibility, we review three pillars together:

1) No prior Spanish tax residence

The regime requires that you were not a Spanish tax resident during a defined prior period (depending on the rules applicable to the year of arrival).

2) The reason for the relocation and your real role

The cause of the move must be coherent and provable (contract, appointment, terms of service, etc.). This is where many denials or adjustments occur: not due to bad faith, but due to weak documentation or “stories” that do not match the data.

3) Communication to the Spanish Tax Agency and timing

The Beckham Law is exercised through a specific filing with the Tax Agency (Form 149)(Order HFP/1338/2023). The subsequent operation —including the specific annual return— requires documentary continuity and coherence with economic reality.

Practical note: “how” things are handled from month one (payroll, withholdings, employer reporting, etc.) is often as important as the legal requirement itself.

What advantages it can offer (and expectations to adjust)

The regime is attractive because it can reduce the tax burden compared with ordinary Spanish PIT in certain cases. But it is not a “coupon” that always makes sense.

International taxation: impact on salary, bonus and investments.

Employment income: the core advantage

In many cases, the greatest impact lies in taxation of salary and variable compensation (bonus). Correctly applied, it can provide a more stable result than ordinary PIT, especially for middle‑to‑high income levels.

Savings income, investments and wealth structure

This is where caution is essential. For impatriates with an international portfolio, shareholdings, cryptoassets or foreign real estate, the analysis should consider:

• What is considered Spain‑source income and what is not.
• Withholding taxes and coordination with double tax treaties.
• Interactions with information obligations and source‑of‑income controls.

We do not publish “recipes” because each case requires an asset map, jurisdictions and proper timing.

Common mistakes that create problems (and how we prevent them). Consult with expert Beckham Law Spain lawyers for impatriates

Filing late or with insufficient documentary support

This regime is formalistic: if the key document is missing (or arrives out of sequence), the case becomes weaker.

Confusing visa/permit with tax residence

A taxpayer may have an immigration permit and not be tax resident, or become tax resident earlier than expected. This affects: filing obligations, arrival planning, and in some cases eligibility.

International remote work: typical inconsistencies

For remote work, proof of reality (where the service is provided, for whom, under what conditions, and how remuneration is paid) is critical.

Changes during the regime

Employer changes, promotions, extraordinary bonuses, stock options, family relocation or property acquisitions: any of these can increase the risk if not managed properly.

Real examples (without revealing a “how‑to manual”), by expert Beckham Law Spain lawyers for impatriates

Example 1: Executive transferred with annual bonus

An executive arrives in Spain in Q1 with fixed salary + variable compensation. The difference is not only the rate, but how the relocation is documented and how withholdings and reporting are aligned. In these cases, we work with the employer so the execution is consistent.

Example 2: German engineer hired by a Spanish company

Eligibility is often clear, but risk appears when there are periods of work abroad, allowances, or benefits in kind that are not properly traced. The goal is an audit‑ready file in case of a request for information.

Example 3: International remote worker and housing in Spain. Perez Parras Economists & Lawyers – Beckham Law Spain lawyers for impatriates

Beyond the impatriate regime itself, real‑estate decisions (buy/sell, reinvestment, moving city for work, etc.) can trigger PIT consequences.

Practical case (relevant to impatriates): work relocation and main home — experienced Beckham Law Spain lawyers for impatriates

Although this article focuses on the Beckham Law, it is important to understand a transversal point that is very common in international relocations: a work move does not automatically “shield” other Spanish PIT rules.

In the binding ruling DGT V1085-25 (25/06/2025), the taxpayer:

• Sold her main home on 25/09/2023 and reinvested in a new home in Barcelona on 11/12/2023, applying the main home reinvestment relief (Art. 38 Spanish IRPF Law).
• In December 2024, her employer informed her that, to maintain her working conditions, she had to relocate to the Madrid office, leaving the home before meeting the minimum 3‑year residence requirement for it to remain “habitual”.

The issue was whether that relocation could be considered a circumstance that “necessarily requires a change of residence” (Art. 41 bis Spanish IRPF Regulations), thereby avoiding the loss of the relief already applied.

DGT’s criterion (summary):

• The exception to the 3‑year rule due to “work relocation” is not automatic: “necessarily” implies obligation (not mere convenience), and there must be a direct cause‑and‑effect link.
• The existence of a typical circumstance (e.g., work relocation) is not decisive by itself: it must be analysed whether the change was an option for the taxpayer or something outside their will.
• As it is a matter of fact, the DGT does not “declare” necessity: assessment corresponds to tax management/audit bodies, and necessity must be supported with admissible evidence (Art. 106 Spanish General Tax Law).
• If the relocation is considered “necessary”, the home retains its habitual status and the relief is preserved. If not, regularisation may be required through an amended self‑assessment for the year of the gain, with late‑payment interest, within the legal deadline.

Why this matters for an impatriate: it is common for newcomers to change city and/or housing within 12–24 months. Experience shows that the Tax Agency requires documentary coherence: both to apply the Beckham Law and to preserve PIT benefits linked to housing, the “relocation” must be defendable.

How we work at Pérez Parras Economists & Lawyers – expert Beckham Law Spain lawyers for impatriates

Beckham Law Spain lawyers for impatriates in Málaga (and all Spain): an evidence‑ and defence‑oriented method

Our approach is designed for a case that is defendable before the Tax Agency, not merely “filed”.

We work in a deliberately technical and robust way. We do not sell “applications” without analysis.

1) Eligibility and risk diagnosis

We review: prior tax situation, reason for the relocation, income structure, family residence and a core asset map.

2) Landing plan (first 90 days)

We align documentation and sequence with the employer/payers, and define a compliance calendar.

3) Filing the regime (Form 149) and ongoing support

We handle the filing and leave the case prepared to withstand requests for information.

4) Annual return (Form 151) and reviews

We avoid “campaign errors”: we verify consistency, withholdings and treatment of sensitive items.

Featured procedures for displaced workers.

FAQs: Beckham Law Spain lawyers for impatriates (frequently asked questions)

Beckham Law Spain lawyers for impatriates: when should you request an analysis?

As early as possible. The greatest value lies in the initial design (contract, relocation, reporting, withholdings and documentary sequence). Fixing it late is often more costly and, in some cases, no longer possible without increasing risk.

Can I apply the Beckham Law if I have family in Spain?

It depends on your prior tax residence and how the change of residence is configured. In some cases, certain family members may also elect if legal conditions are met and properly documented.

Is it compatible with the digital nomad or international remote worker permit?

Immigration residence and tax residence are not equivalent. Compatibility may exist, but the “fit” requires reviewing facts (where services are provided, for whom, how remuneration is paid) and documentation.

If I change employer, do I lose the regime?

Not necessarily. The key is maintaining compliance conditions and properly managing changes (and, where applicable, related communications) to avoid inconsistencies.

What about bonuses, benefits in kind or stock options?

These are often sensitive items. There is no “template answer”: it depends on the plan, the source of the income, traceability and how it is implemented. For variable‑heavy profiles, the upfront analysis is critical.

What about foreign investments and foreign income?

This is one of the areas where oversimplification is most common. You need to map the type of income, jurisdictions, applicable treaties and withholding coordination. For prudence, we do not publish closed “schemes”.

What documentation does the Tax Agency usually request if it reviews the regime?

It typically requires coherent evidence of the cause of the relocation, the real professional relationship and its execution: contract/appointment, registrations and payslips, employer/payer certificates and proof of the move. Sufficiency of proof is assessed case by case.

Can you renounce the regime or be excluded?

Yes, and it may be advisable in certain scenarios (material change in income, structure, country of origin, etc.). The decision should be taken with an impact analysis and a calendar.

When is it better NOT to apply?

When your income/deductions profile makes ordinary PIT more efficient, or when documentary risks advise against a weak election.

Next step with Beckham Law Spain lawyers for impatriates: a confidential assessment

If you plan to relocate to Spain (or have relocated recently) and want to know whether the Beckham Law is right for you and how to apply it safely, at Pérez Parras we act as Beckham Law Spain lawyers for impatriates with a technical, defence‑ready approach.

Offices in Málaga and Nerja, serving all Spain. Expert Beckham Law Spain lawyers for impatriates.