Taxation Declaracíon de la Renta
Working or Self employed
School Registration
The inability to speak the local language is one of the biggest barriers to settling into an overseas community. If you don't Speak Spanish and you Need Help in Tenerife?-

 

with any sort of paper work, Translations, NIE, Certificate of Residence Registration applications and renewals, Tax returns - La Renta etc, Voting rights - Padron, Car Transfers, Boat transfers, Change or renewal of Driving Licence, Making your Spanish Will, Registering at the Doctors, obtaining a European Health Card, visits to Hospital, Denuncias at the Police station or Guardia Civil, Dealing with the town hall or utility companies, etc etc. etc.. To email Click Here help@diana-mcglone.com or ring mobile number 0034 647 057 599 or ring land line 0034 922 86 74 78 and leave your contact details.

I will accompany you every step of the way!

Local News in English from Tenerife and the Canary Islands
www.newsinthesun.com
Google
 

Can I get Health Care?

The Spanish National Healthcare Service is considered to be one of the best in Europe. Most statistics show the Spanish service to be better and certainly the equal of the UK NHS. Access to this service is freely available to EU citizens as long as you have taken the necessary steps to prove your entitlement to the Spanish authorities, which in the case of E121 and E106 will include applying for a registration certificate. For UK residents who spend more than 3 months in Spain at a time you need either an E121 or E106. The E121 is designed for people of retirement age who are receiving a UK State Pension and it entitles them to permanent and continuing access to the Spanish National Healthcare Service. The E106 is based on up to date UK NI contributions. A European Health Card will entitle you to cover for holiday stays.

Once you have obtained all the necessary permits, you then have to register with your local GP to finalize the process., Most National health GPs in Tenerife DO NOT speak English and will require you to bring an interpreter. I can translate at this initial meeting and accompany you to any subsequent doctors or specialist appointments. You would be wise to bring any records of previous medical history with you.

Prescriptions are free for Pensioners. http://www.dwp.gov.uk/international/sa29/

Who is entitled to Spanish National Health cover and how can I apply?

Eu citizens who are working or self employed and are making up to date Spanish national insurance contibutions, plus their legal dependants, Retired EU citizens who were working legally in Spain and have now retired, or EU citizens who have retired and are entitled to health cover from their own memeber state via an E121, job seekers who have an E106.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO APPLY CAN BE FOUND HERE

 

Residencias replaced by Certificate of registration - Information Updated Sept. 2007

As of the 28 March 2007 the regulations for European Union Citizens have changed: As from Monday (2 April 2007) you must process the new Certificado de Registro applications at the National Police Station. they look like the one below right Application forms are available at the information desk. There is a processing fee, which has to be paid in the bank and forms for that are again available at the Police Station. You need to provide proof of your date of entry into Spain and of your current address. Although the new certificate does not reproduce your photograph, you still have to provide one for the police station to keep

EVERYONE who is an EU citizen and has stayed or intends to stay in Tenerife for a period of longer than 3 months is obliged to get themselves entered on to the foreigners' register - even those people who used to be exempt from having residencias under the previous legislation. If you already have a residencia you can wait until that expires.

This affects a lot of people who are working or living here and under the old scheme did not have to do anything except have a contract or work for themselves - including children! -now all must go in person to the National Police Station and queue!.

Non EU citizens who are married/dependants of EU citizens have to follow a different procedure.

There is a help desk at the Police Station -  but if you don't have at least some Spanish you may struggle.

If you are not a Spanish speaker and need help with this please contact me on 647057599 or 922867478.

Queues at the police stations to process these applications are extremely long at all locations.(Puerto de la Cruz has a long waiting list! and you have to queue to get the opportunity to queue on another day!!!) DO NOT attend unless you have previously collected ALL the required documents, information and bank receipted tax payment form - you will simply be turned away! On the bright side the certificate is issued straight away and you will not have to return to renew in 5 years (under present legislation anyway!) Dependant children not born in Spain will have to have their birth certificates officially translated and will have to provide a certificate of convivencia as well as the other documentation. Updated 17 June 2007

Source information posted on the ministry of the interior's website (28/03/07) quote:

Stay in Spain of duration longer than 3 months

(Under 3 months is considered a holiday visit and a valid passport is sufficient)

The citizens of a member state of the European Union, or of another state which has subscribed to the agreement on the European Economic Space, have the right to reside in Spanish territory for a period of time exceeding three months. Those interested in doing so are required to apply in person to have themselves included on the Central Register of Foreigners - - at the Office of Foreigners in the province where they intend to reside or alternatively at their nearest Police Comisaría (Central National Police Station).

This application must be submitted within 3 months of the date of the person's entry into Spain, and they will be immediately issued with a certificate of registration which will show, the name, nationality, address of the registered person, their Foreigners Identity Number (NIE) and the date of the registration. Together with the application for inclusion on the register, they must present a valid and in date passport or national identity document. In the event that said document has expired, they must provide a copy of their application to renew it.

Processing and validity of the Certificate of Registration

The application for the emission of the Certificate of Registration must be made using the appropriate official form and having previously paid the appropriate fee (as indicated in the current scale of charges for supplying official documentation)

In all cases the validity of the certificate issued is subject to the holder advising the authorities of any change in their marital circumstances, nationality or address.

Non EC nationals married to EC Nationals are subject to different criteria (not reproduced here)

You should always seek advice concerning your particular circumstances and take a translator with you if necessary as the civil servants concerned are not obliged to speak English

(Translated in good faith from the original Spanish reproduced below - source: www.mir.es. Diana McGlone accepts no liability either direct or implied for any loss or damage occasioned by the use of said information)

RESIDENCIA SUPERIOR A TRES MESES

This information was sent out by the British Embassy in Madrid

Press release, British Embassy, Madrid 7 March 2007

Residents discounts

 

Dealing with your local town hall

You will almost certainly have to deal with the local town hall at some point. They vary slightly in the way they do things from place to place, but the underlying procedures are the same. You may go to the town hall itself or you can often transact business at sub offices nearer to where you live, particularly for the costal regions.

They will deal with the census (padron) information, and will issue Certificados de empadronamiento and Certificados de convivencia, opening licences for local traders, planning permissions etc etc., In a seperate but often nearby office are The "Consorcio" who actually collect monies on behalf of the councils, will deal with payments for Local taxes, Vehicle road tax, Local property tax ( Impuesto Sobre Bienes Inmuebles), Rubbish collection rates, Sewage rates, and in some cases Water rates, although many Ayuntamientos have a private company dealing with water supply, in which case they will be located elsewhere.

It is YOUR responsibility to make sure that the information supplied to the local authority is correct. Estate agents will often offer change of name of ownership with the local authority as a service, but do not assume that they have done this. In the same way DO NOT assume that when you move your name and indeed direct debit for these services will be stopped! As a rule of thumb the person who was in occupation as at January of the year in question is resposible for payments of local property tax. Make sure you are clear than your name and bank account have been removed from the local records if appropriate.

 

What about Tax?

When is a tax payer considered resident in Spain?
A person who is liable to pay tax is considered resident in Spain under the following circumstances:

That they have stayed continuously in Spanish territories for 183 days or more during any one year calendar year. To determine this period occasional absenses are ignored unless the taxpayer has established their abode for tax purposes in another country. The Administración Tributaria may demand proof of their length of stay.

That the main base of their fiscal or activities or economic interests is in Spain be they direct or indirect.

Information available in English here: http://www.aeat.es/aeat/aeat.jsp?pg=camp/noReside/en_GB

If you are considered resident for tax purposes in Spain when are you liable to do a Declaración de la Renta (anual tax return)

As a rule of thumb you are not obliged to submit a Declaración de la Renta if your income is derived from a regular salary of up to 22,000 euros per anum for an individual contributor, you may however wish to do so in order to claim allowances on mortgage payments, pension plans etc

The limit is set at 10,000 euros annual gross when:
Income is derived from more than one source, provided that the amount of the sums received on the second and remaining sources, does not exceed 1,500 euros annual gross, or the source of the income is not required to withhold (eg pensions from abroad).

Your annual tax return for the previous year must be submitted by the 25th June (refund applications must be submitted by the 20th). Most Gestors and acountants start preparing these in early May.

If you have problems getting your information together I will be happy to help you just ring 647 057 599

The Spanish Income Tax system is not so very different to that in the UK. I can make an appointment with a professional for you to seek advice if you are a high net worth individual. However, in general it is likely that, on a similar income, you will pay less income tax in Spain than the UK. There are all the other usual Tax Classes such as Capital Gains, Gift Tax, Inheritance Tax etc., as you would expect. In the case of Capital Gains and Inheritance Tax it is recommended that you take professional advice, as there can be extremely large savings to be made here.

But here is a brief outline of Taxation of Spanish property owned in the Canary Islands (Courtesy of the El Sol News)

Local Taxes

There are two local property taxes which are both based on the property's theoretical rental value according to the local land registry, and are adjusted in line with inflation. The rates of tax will vary from region to region due to the varying rates of tax imposed by the regional and local governments.

Local property tax ( Impuesto Sobre Bienes Inmuebles (IBI) )

This is the main local property tax affecting owners of properties in Spain payable yearly to the Town Hall. The amount of the tax is calculated by reference to the valor catastral (official value of the property) registered in respect of all properties in Spain . The percentage charged varies from area to area, and is roughly 0.5% to 1%.

Local mains drainage and refuse collection tax - "basura y alcantarillado"

(Not to be confused with "agua" which in some ayuntamientos is paid to a private water company))

This local tax payable by property owner and a related to rubbish collection and drainage. The amount to pay varies from area to area, and should be paid to the local Town Hall every year together with the local property tax mentioned above.

As a non-resident property owner in Spain , you may be liable for income tax, value added tax wealth tax, capital gains tax and inheritance tax. Individual situations vary considerably and it is best to seek specialist advice from a tax consultant who has knowledge of the Spanish tax system.

National Taxes

Income Tax - Impuesto sobre la Renta de las Personas Fisicas (IRPF)

The income derived on property in Spain should be declared in Spain . If you sell your Spanish property within one year of purchasing it, then the profit you make is considered an income and not a capital gain, and you would have to pay Spanish income tax on any profit made. If you rent out your Spanish property, then you have a "rental income" from the Spanish property and will have to pay Spanish income tax.

CAPITAL GAINS TAX
Paid by vendor. If vendor is non-resident, then this will be taken at notary in the form of a retention of 3% of declared sale price. Vendor can then arrange to pay the CGT proper and subsequently reclaim the retention withheld at notary. Most often, vendors never pay the CGT proper, leaving the tax authorities with the 3%. Often the 3% of the purchase price is roughly equivalent to 18% of the capital gain, normally with an advantage to the Hacienda, which is why they don't chase for the CGT. This also means that the Hacienda will often lose out if the retention is reclaimed, so they tend to investigate the tax affairs of anyone making a claim ... even though they will by definition have by then received the CGT.

If the property was bought before 31 December 1986, CGT won't apply.

Capital Gains Tax New for 2007 source http://spanish-taxes.co.uk/services/capital-gains-tax/


Here we are dealing with the latest rumours from the Spanish rumor mill, so before taking any action or relying on the information provided please check with your own Assesor, Gestoria or Fiscal Representative. If you don’t have one drop me an email and I will arrange an introduction for you.

There was a time when anyone who had bought their Spanish property before 31st December 1986 was exempt from paying Capital Gains Tax. [THIS NO LONGER APPLIES.]

This exemption was annulled as from 20th January 2006 and now long term owners of property in Spain must pay Capital Gains Tax on the profit gained after January 20th 2006.

This is in draft and will not be enacted upon until 31st December 2006, so it is posible there could be changes.

CHANGES TO THE RATE OF CAPITAL GAINS TAX
Again, it is possible that this could change however, the differential between the rate for residents and non residents which has been deemed to be discriminatory is changing to 18% for all gains regardless of residence.

Residents and Non Residents
A gain is calculated by deducting the acquisition cost from the disposal value.

For property (real property) the acquisition cost may be adjusted by application of a co-efficient from statutory tables. This adjusts the cost for inflation purposes and reduces the amount of tax payable.

Any qualifying improvements to the property may also be taken into account

Where the period of ownership is less than one year the “gain” is added to income and taxed accordingly (this is not an attractive option)

Where the period of ownership is over one year the gain is taxed at a flat rate of 18%.

For property, there is up to 100% hold-over relief on your main residence providing the gain is re-invested in the new main residence within two years of the sale.

If only a proportion of the gain is re-invested, then only a proportion is taxable.

If aged over 65 years and have lived in your main residence for more than three years and are tax-resident, the gain is tax-free and there is no need to buy a new property to claim roll-over.

There are additional rules for other Spanish financial investments and you should seek specialist advice, please do contact us!

Deemed rental income tax ( Rendimientos del capital inmobiliario )

If you are non-resident a "deemed rental income" is levied by the Spanish tax authorities for urban real estate not rented out or used as a second residence. Therefore, if your Spanish property is not rented out or not your primary residence (i.e. a holiday home), you will be liable for the "deemed rental income tax" even if you do not let out your Spanish property. The local town hall will charge you according to the valor catastral (rateable value) of the Spanish property. As a general estimate they will assume you are making 2% of this value each year from letting your Spanish property and charge you 25% of that "income", which equates to a total of 0.5% of the valor catastral (rateable value) of the your Spanish property. For example, if you own a Spanish property with a valor catastral (rateable value) of €100,000 and you are not renting it out, you will still be liable for 25% of €2000, which equates to €500.

Wealth Tax - Patrimonio

Up until the end of 2007 you would be liable to pay wealth tax (Patrimonio) at a percentage that depends on the value of your wealth (i.e. property plus savings in the bank, etc.). The wealth value associated to a property is based on what the declared value of the property was when you purchased it.

But Friday 18th April 2008 will be remembered as the day when the Spanish Wealth Tax (Impuesto de Patrimonio) was suppressed by the Counsel of Ministers.

The abolition will be effective from the 2008 tax year, i.e. closing on 31st December 2008.

This change will make possible for many individuals to stop worrying about paying taxes on worldwide assets and start paying a flat 18% Income Tax in Spain, if their income is coming from investments, dividends or capital gains. Compared with the hectic 43% suffered by most taxpayers, this is an interesting incentive to consider relocation to Spain.

PLUSVALÍA

Paid officially by vendors, but can be negotiated to be paid by purchasers. If vendor is resident, then it does not accrue as a preferential charge on the property if unpaid. If vendor is non-resident, and the bill is unpaid, it can be charged to the property.

Plusvalía is nothing to do with the property as such, but is a tax on the increase in value of the land on which the property is built. It is a low tax, assessed on the combined basis of rateable value and surface area. The tax is actually calculated every year, but only becomes payable when the property changes hands: as such, if the property has been owned for many years, the yearly sums can mount up and be burdensome. Similarly, if the property comprises a considerable amount of land, then the tax can also be onerous.

Generally, though, for single apartments owned for up to, say, 5 years, it is not a great sum to pay ... a few hundred Euros or so.

TRANSFER TAX
Paid by purchaser on the purchase of a property. This will either take the form of 7% ITP (Impuesto sobre Transmisiones Patrimoniales) for resale properties, or 5% IGIC (Impuesto General Indirecto de Canarias, equivalent to Value Added Tax) on new properties. For new properties only, stamp duty at 0.5% will also be payable.
__________________

Inheritance Tax

There has been a change to the regulations in the Canary Islands for this as of January 2008.

The tax has been REDUCED to virtually nothing by means of a 99.9% "rebate" it applies to close family members and registered common law partners see examples in Spanish here http://www.gobiernodecanarias.org/tr...s_fiscales.pdf
Beneficiaries have to have been resident in the Canaries for a minimum of 5 years

 

Bank Accounts?

 

It is very easy to set up a Spanish Bank account. You simply need a permanent Spanish address, If you are opening a Non residents account you may have to provide proof of your address in the UK, your Passport and your NIE number. .An NIE number is a "Numero identificacion extranjero" and is your Tax Registration ID in Spain. You need an NIE to do a lot of things including property purchase (this includes time shares as well as real estate) and car purchase. I can guide you through this and can also introduce you to one of several English speaking Bank officers who will have your account open within a few minutes.

CLAMPDOWN ON LOANS FOR FOREIGN BUYERSNon-resident buyers hit as banks bring bar down on false claims

BUYING a second home in Spain is getting tougher because of a clampdown on loans to non-residents.
The move follows a spate of false mortgage applications.
Spanish bank Banesto, part of the Banco Santander group, last week ( August 2007) withdrew all of its non-resident mortgage lending without warning.
It followed hard on the heels of a decision weeks after a similar move by Caja Mediterraneo bank, one of the largest providers of non-resident mortgages in Spain.
It instructed its branches not to accept any non-resident mortgage applications for the time being.
Heather Chambers, a director of International Mortgage Solutions, Spain’s largest non-resident mortgage broker, said: “This is clearly a case of once bitten, twice shy for Banesto.
“It’s sad that a few unscrupulous brokers supplying false paperwork to the banks in order to get their commission has led to a situation where genuine foreign buyers have to suffer.”
Chambers said that, despite the confusion caused in the market, the banks should be applauded for their swift action in trying to stamp out the fraudulent practice.
“As the Spanish mortgage market has opened up and become more flexible the depth of credit analysis has also increased,” she said.
“Spanish banks are tightening up and have become much more careful to check documentation before granting mortgages.”
Lenders have even begun to check liabilities and credit history in the applicants’ countries of residence, something they didn’t bother to do before.
Scottish Widows, part of the Lloyds TSB group, has also started to register non-resident loans granted in Spain on the client’s credit file back in the UK.
Chambers said: “The climate is certainly changing and those operating on the wrong side of the law will have to clean up or close down.”

NIE Number Application

A White certificate NIE number is required when you are NON resident, i.e. staying for less than 3 months at a time, and wish to:

This is NOT to be confused with the certificado de registro - green certificate for EC citizens - which although still carries a NIE number is what is required by residents in Spain.

 

What the NIE Number application involves

I will need the following information from you

 

 

YOU as an overseas visitor to the UK

You should also remember if you return for visits to the UK you may not automatically be able to obtain health cover there.

Are you visiting the United Kingdom? Have you been living outside the UK for more than 3 months? Did you know that you may have to pay for hospital treatment whilst in the UK? Hospital treatment is free to people who ordinarily live in the United Kingdom . If you do not normally live here then you may be required to pay for any treatment you might need. This is regardless of whether you are a British citizen or have lived or worked in the UK in the past.

Under the current Regulations, anyone who spends more than 3 months living outside the UK is no longer automatically entitled to free NHS hospital treatment in England. This includes people in receipt of UK state retirement pensions.

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/Entitlementsandcharges/OverseasVisitors/index.htm

You should make sure you have applied for a European Health Card from the Spanish authorities before returning to the UK as a visitor - this if free and valid for one year from the date of issue. I can help you to obtain this card if you do not know where to go or do not speak Spanish.

 

 

Retirement

Can I draw my Pension?
You can be paid a UK State Pension (with an extra amount if you are aged 80 or more), in any other EU country. You will get the same as you would get in the UK. This will usually be paid straight into your bank or building society account in the UK or your bank account in Spain or, if you wish, you can choose to have payment orders sent straight to you by post. Whichever you choose, payment is made every 4 or 13 weeks in arrears.

The most appropriate means of requesting a State Pension Forecast depends on age. So long as an individual is not within 4 months of State Retirement Age, responsibility for providing State Pension Forecasts to customers living overseas rests with the Inland Revenue.
If a customer is within 4 months of Retirement Age he/she can request their forecast from the International Pension Centre in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne

If pensioner benefits are already in payment to an overseas customer then their entitlement is administered by the International Pension Centre in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne.

In both cases the Social Security Agency will, if approached by a customer issue the customer with the relevant papers and provide a return address (usually the IPC in Newcastle).

* If more than 4 months before retirement - complete form CA3638 (on the IR site) and send to the IR. http://www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/cnr/osc.htm#5

* If they are within 4 months of retirement they should already have been issued with an application pack. If they have received this then they should complete the forms and return them as soon as possible.

* If they are within 4 months of retirement and have not received an application pack then they should contact the pension service immediately.

You apply for your pension in the European member state where you last worked - so if you spent 30 years employed in the UK and 10 in Spain, then you make your application in Spain although the larger part of your benefit comes from the UK.

Less work for full pensions under UK rules source: The Tenerife Sun newspaper issue 242 Sept. 2007

New entitlement rules for British pensions could spell good news for expatriates without enough contributions to entitle them to a full pension.
New legislation introduced in July reduced the requirement to 30 years of contributions for people reaching retirement age on or after April 6, 2010.
In the past, men needed 44 years of social security contributions to qualify for a full pension.
But today, more young people go to university and don’t begin their working lives until later and won’t have 44 years in by the time they retire.
Another benefit of the rule changes means there will be no minimum number of year’s contributions before people are entitled to at least some pension.
Also the government has decided to link pension increases with wages rather than prices, which should see pensions increase more each year than at present.
To pay for all this, the new rules include gradually increasing the retirement age for women from 60 to 65, so the state pension age will be the same for both men and women by 2020.
And the pension age will rise in stages to 68 between 2024 and 2046 as people live longer.
But what the new rules won’t do is give you a state pension that provides enough money for a comfortable old age.
That takes a private or company pension to make up the shortfall and in Britain it is a well-established norm.
But even in Britain it’s amazing how many people haven’t planned for their retirement. For the less well-off, that’s often because they can’t afford to.
It’s a situation that is even worse in Spain where a shocking new report warns that tomorrow’s pensioners could be heading for a life of poverty.
Nearly two thirds of Spanish workers fail to put any money aside for their old age.
Everyone in Spain who is legally employed on a contract or self employed and making social security payments is entitled to a state pension, provided they have been paying into the system for at least 15 years.
However, 15 years contributions will only entitle you to 50 per cent of the full payment.
From there on, the system operates on a sliding scale. To receive the full state pension you have to have clocked up 35 years of contributions.
So to retire at 65 on a full state pension, you will need to have been working and paying into the system since age 30.
Despite dire warnings that an aging population means the government’s coffers are running dry and could be empty by the time today’s thirty-somethings come to retire, only 37 per cent of them have a private pension plan.
The figure is much lower than the European average of 56 per cent, according to researchers.
Only the Portuguese make less provision for their retirement, with three-quarters of the population relying purely on the state to provide for their old age.
The main reason Spaniards gave for not putting money aside was cost.
Most said with wages failing to keep pace with inflation, house prices spiralling out of control and increases in mortgage repayments squeezing the family budget, there is nothing left to save.
And parents are now being faced with the annual back-to-school bill, which amounts to several hundred euros per child for uniforms, textbooks and the rest.
And it seems they are not just making excuses. Last year it was estimated that nearly half of Spaniards had to forego the annual August rush to the seaside because they simply couldn’t afford a holiday.
Historically, the Spanish state pension has been considered fairly generous compared to some other EU member states.
Today the average Spanish pension is around €600 a month, hardly enough to live the life of Riley but perhaps enough to scrape by.
As in the UK, Spain’s aging population, coupled with the fact that more people attend university and start work much later, leaving them fewer years to contribute, means that today’s under-40s are building up a much smaller pension pot than their parents.
Eight million people in Spain receive a state pension today but whether the next generation will enjoy the same is open to question.
And it isn’t just in Spain that the problems of a burgeoning elderly population are proving a drain on government resources.
The problem of a shrinking working population having to support a growing number of pensioners with their social security contributions is concentrating the minds of politicians across the western world.
In Spain, the majority of today’s working population believe they will have to carry on working long after 65 before they can afford to retire.
That’s just as well because figures from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, the OECD, reveal that by 2050 Spain will have the oldest population in Europe.
It’s all down to people living longer and the dwindling influence of the Catholic Church, which encouraged large families and banned contraception. Today’s young Spaniards are more likely to make their own life choices, which means an average of just one child per couple, not enough to keep the population from diminishing, let alone increase it.
Ironically, in countries that don’t suffer from Spain’s birth rate worries, like Sweden and Germany, far more people make provision for their old age.
In Sweden, Germany and Austria more than 70 per cent of people save for retirement, double the number in Spain.
Part of Spain’s problem is that well over half of its adult residents claim to know little or nothing about pensions or retirement funds and are too afraid to find out, fearing being blinded with science.


Pension Service Contact Details for overseas customers
The Pension Service International Pension Centre (IPC) deal with queries about United Kingdom benefits payable to overseas customers.

You can contact the IPC on +44 191 218 7777 or fax +44 191 218 7381.
Opening hours are 8.00 am to 8.00 pm (GMT).

Or you can write to The International Pension Centre, Tyneview Park, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE98 1BA, United Kingdom.

Alternatively customers can send e-mail through the Pension Service website http://www.thepensionservice.gov.uk/contactus/contact-pod-form.asp

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/

If you are not retired and are working in Spain either self employed or legally employed you need to pay Social Security contributions. If you are employed the employer pays these, if self-employed there is a standard monthly rate starting at 240 euros a month as at February 2006. If you are working for yourself there are various ways of paying your taxes and you may be able to sign up for the simplified modulo system, I can give you information on this and introduce you to local assessors and accountants

This acurate article taken from the Times March 09, 2007 (London) puts forward some very important points about coming to retire in Tenerife

Shelter from the sun

More and more elderly Britons are finding life in Spain a struggle

JANE COLEMAN moved to her new home in Tenerife with her husband six years ago intending to spend her retirement relaxing in the sun and putting her nursing days behind her. But chance would be a fine thing. Now she finds herself busier than ever working as a carer and home help, looking after impoverished and destitute fellow Brits.

“I couldn't turn my back on all these people,” she says. “They are in poor health and have no one to look after them. I've lost count of the number who have bought property out here without thinking about the future.”

One of her clients, Mike, whose wife has died, suffered a stroke last year and couldn't manage on his own. Now Jane cleans his house and does his shopping for him. He has a British pension but does not receive any social care, because in Spain care of the elderly is done within the family.

Coleman says: “It's not just retired people this is happening to, it's all ages, even people in their twenties who have tried to make money from a time-share business only to see it collapse. In Spain having a contract of work is a passport to all sorts of benefits and if you don't have a job you lose all entitlement.”

Mike's plight is typical of a growing number of British people who have sold up and moved abroad. But their property dream has turned into a nightmare of poverty, deprivation and ill health. The Foreign Office says that the number in that predicament now runs into thousands. The British Consulate in Málaga spends much of its time dealing with elderly British nationals who moved there ten or 15 years ago but who now find they cannot manage because of inadequate preparation for their new life.

And this is a problem that is likely to grow. A recent report by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) indicates that almost one in ten Britons now lives abroad and that a British national emigrates every three minutes. It predicts that a further one million Brits will move abroad over the next five years.

Bruce McIntyre, the British Consul in Málaga, says: “Sadly we spend much of our time dealing with elderly British nationals who cannot manage alone. Sometimes a partner has died and the other is too old or infirm to go out and buy food. Sometimes people have made bad property investments or have not budgeted their pensions sufficiently and are living in extreme poverty.” He says that British retired people need to realise that not many European countries have welfare provisions like the UK. There are often no old people's homes, no district nursing, community care or meals on wheels. He adds that there are some steps new residents can take: Register with the local authority, so that when you fall ill you can receive medical care; Would-be emigrés must do their homework: the costs of renovating and maintaining a property and of hiring a local lawyer can leave residents with no money for day-to-day expenses; It helps if you can speak the language. The IPPR report shows that the inability to speak the local language is one of the biggest barriers to settling into an overseas community.

Nevertheless, the problem of impoverished Brits living in Spain has led Age Concern to set up an office in Majorca. The charity says it helps about 100 people a year to repatriate to the UK. “If people are registered officially as residents in another country within the EU, they are entitled to the same support as other residents in that country,” an Age Concern spokesman says. “However, the support available may differ from the support in this country – very limited social services, for example – and language may make it difficult to access.

“Returning to England is often the last option and can be very traumatic for someone who has lived a significant portion of their life elsewhere.”

A Foreign Office guide , Going To Live Abroad , is available at www.fco.gov.uk/travel . An Age Concern guide on retiring abroad is at www.ageconcern.co.uk

Spanish Will

 

If you own a house in another country, you are most strongly advised to write a Will in that country to cover the property there - In Spain this means visiting notary and having the document drawn up in Spanish.
 

Trying to administer an estate in Spain without the correct Will is like trying to walk in treacle!

Remember

When thinking about who should receive your assets, it is important that you consider all your possessions, not just individual items in isolation. A foreign Will is as much part of your estate planning as an English Will, and hence you should integrate your English and foreign Wills.

They should be written at the same time, designed to complement each other.

As a UK citizen, you are not obliged to follow normal Spanish succession laws. You should take great care when you draft your Spanish Will.

As in any legal document, make sure you understand the full implications of what you are signing.

In theory, the Spanish law of enforced inheritance applies equally to foreigners with property in Spain, restricting the disposal of this property as it does for Spaniards. This is simply because most countries apply the law of the land where the property is located. However, Article 9 of the Spanish Civil Code provides that when a foreign property owner dies, even if he holds an official residence permit, the disposal of any assets he has in Spain will be governed by his own national law, not Spanish law.

If your own country's law permits free disposal of the estate, this frees you from the Spanish law of compulsory heirs. Both the English and American laws provide for free disposition of assets but Scottish and German laws require some part of the estate going to the children. Whilst this is very good news for the English, it does not unfortunately free them from Spanish inheritance tax.

This freedom to dispose of assets as you wish only applies if there is a current Spanish or foreign will. To die intestate will result in Spanish law being applied and

assets being distributed among the children. So far so good but now the situation becomes a little more complex because a number of countries including Great Britain have laws which say that the disposition of real property such as land, houses and apartments will be governed by the laws of the country where the deceased is legally domiciled at the time of his death.

So on the one hand we have Spanish law saying that English law will apply and on the other hand English law saying that Spanish law will apply because that's where the property is located. In theory an Englishman is subject to the Spanish law which means he can freely dispose of only one third of his assets in Spain.

This is the theory but in practice things are different. Any foreigner can make a Spanish will bequeathing his Spanish property to any person of his choice as long as his own national law is ruled by the principle of free disposition of property by testament. The Spanish Registrar of Wills accepts this. Come the time, the will is executed and the inheritor takes possession of his new property. Spanish lawyers routinely make such wills. In a nutshell, this means that if you are British, you can make a Spanish will leaving your Spanish property to whoever you choose.

However, something to bear in mind is the fact that if you leave your property to your favourite daughter and cut out your black sheep son, it could be that he takes expert advice and contest the will on the grounds that Spanish law stipulates that half of the inheritance is his and win his case. This situation can be avoided by transferring the title deed of the property to your chosen heir while you are still alive. Remember, where there's a will - there's relations!

When making a will remember in Spain you do not need a lawyer to make your will - you can do this in front of the Notary. This is all right if your instructions are straight forward and there are no minors involved. A dual language "Testamento Abierto" will suffice, but carrying out your instructions is not the same thing as advising you in your best interests, so if you have any doubts consult a lawyer (Abogado)

The living will (06-08-2007)

Legislation has been passed in the Canary Isles (Decree 13/2006 dated 8th February - B.O.C. 43, 2.3.2006) regarding living wills (testamento vital). This law will allow all individuals in the Canary Islands to prepare a letter which will be given to doctors and hospitals with instructions regarding their medical treatment and care that they wish to receive in the case of illness or injury. This document will be especially useful in situations where it is not possible for you to express your wishes. There is now a registry of living wills in the Canary Islands. If you decide to write a living will, you can appoint representatives to carry out your wishes and these instructions will become an essential guide for your doctors. The procedure is quite simple but it is always a good idea to consult a lawyer. It is not essential to have a living will as normally your relatives and doctors make any necessary decisions for you, but it can be a good idea because of the language barrier and because of legal and cultural differences which make communication difficult. All foreigners staying in Spain should at least consider the possibility of making one

Driving Licences and Car Matters

Residents Driving Licence requirements

If you are living in Tenerife for longer than 6 months you would be advised to

Either
to Inscript your UK licence ie advise the Spanish driving authorities of your permanent address here in Tenerife. After they have checked with the DVLA in the UK (about 6 weeks delay currently - Feb 08) to make sure you don't have points or a ban, then they give you a printed piece of A5 paper which you then keep with your UK licence.
OR
you exchange (canje) your UK licence for a Spanish one you still have the wait for DVLA to confirm your driving status and then you hand in your UK licence for a temporary Spanish one. You then receive your new plastic licence through the post direct to your home.

You ARE required to Inscript your licence - ie advise the Spanish authorities of your new permanent address after you have been in Spain permanently for 6 months, but you do not HAVE to canje (exchange) for a Spanish one unless you wish to, or unless you have lost your UK one and are unable to get a replacement in the UK because you no longer have any ties there

Car matters: Buying a second hand car, ITV's (The equivalent of an MOT) and other topics to do with motoring

When buying or selling a car you must make sure that you have a "compra venta" bill of sale signed by both parties, that if you are the purchaser you have an NIE number and a certificate of empadronamiento, a copy of your pasport or identity document and that of the vendor. You must have proof of payment of the road tax (rodaje) and the originals of the "ficha technica" and "permiso de circulación" The car must have an in date ITV. The car will not be transerred into your name until you have paid the transfer taxes and fees - this will depend on the book price of the car. At the end of the process you should have a new ·permiso de circulación" in your name.

An ITV is the Spanish equivalent of an MOT you can book an appointment on line (in English) here http://www.applusiteuve.com/esp/index_home.html

 

Whats this I've heard about crime?

The UK press occasionally reports a very untypical incident. People in glass houses shouldnt throw stones! Fact is that crime is only 17% of UK levels. You can walk the streets in Spain without meeting mindless thugs. You decide where you're safest! But in the unfortunate event of you suffering a break-in or having possessions stolen, I can take you through the procedures to make a claim on your insurance company, stop any stolen credit cards and translate at the Police station for you

Britsh Consulate and Renewing your British Passport

Consular help in the south of Tenerife

The British Consulate in Tenerife has begun an outreach programme to deal with emergencies in the south of the island.
A member of the consulate staff will be available to offer assistance on Mondays and Thursdays between 9.30am and 1.30pm at San Eugenio.
The surgeries will be held in the offices of law firm, De Cotta McKenna y Santafé, in Avenida Colón, opposite the Scotch Corner restaurant.
The sessions are being set up mainly to assist tourists who get into trouble, having lost their passports, been mugged, or involved in an accident.
It is hoped the service will go some way towards easing the plight of British citizens who have to travel all the way to the British Consulate in Santa Cruz when they find themselves in difficulties.
It is a particular problem for people on holiday.
The consulate advises where possible an appointment should be made first by ringing 922 286863 to discuss the nature of the problem.
But for lost or stolen passports, the first step is a special police line on 902 102112, which will be answered in English.
It is possible to travel abroad using a police report of passport loss but the consulate warns that there can be no guarantee because it is subject individual airlines’ policies.

The main services available are; Emergency Travel Documents, Certification of Documents and general assistance.

Full details on services available can be found on www.ukinspain.com. If you would like to see one of the Consular officials, please ensure you make an appointment with the Consulate in Santa Cruz on 922 286 863 (Mon-Fri 08.00 – 15.30) or email tenerife.enquiries@fco.gov.uk.

INCREASES IN PASSPORT AND OTHER CONSULAR FEES FROM 1 APRIL 2007

The fees for passports and other chargeable consular services provided by British consular posts overseas are to increase from 1 April 2007.  For example, an adult 32 page passport will cost £119.00 (up from £91.00) and registering a British National's birth will cost £92.00 (up from £64.50).
These changes will ensure that the full costs of providing services are fully recovered without any claim on the British tax payer and to meet increasing demand, while maintaining high standards of service. The Director for Consular services in Spain, Michael John Holloway said: "Over the past couple of years the cost of running the consular service has increased considerably.  HM Treasury rules require us to recover our full costs from fee income and don't allow us to make a loss; we do not make any profit from these services.  We want to maintain the services we provide and given the increased demand for consular services from the British public, a fee increase is necessary.  The alternative would be to reduce the levels of service and size of our consular network in Spain.  This is not an option.  British nationals are travelling and living in all corners of Spain and expect high quality support services throughout – this is shown by the continuing increase in requests for our services.  I believe we are delivering on what our customer  wants but this has to be paid for.  We are determined to continue to offer the best service possible to British nationals who require our assistance.” The Director continued by saying “Compared to other products, the price of consular and passport services remains competitive.  For example, a full 10 year passport which gives its holder access to consular support services world-wide will cost £119 compared to the average 1 year comprehensive worldwide travel insurance which costs £90.” For further details of the increased fees, together with a more detailed explanation about why these increases are necessary please click here

News Flash 1/11/07

INTERMITTENT TEMPORARY SUSPENSIONS OF THE ISSUE OF EUROPEAN UNION CITIZEN REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE

THE FOLLOWING NOTICE IS BEING DISPLAYED Intermittently AT THE
SOUTHERN NATIONAL POLICE STATION IN LAS AMERICAS

We (The foreigners department of the National Brigade of Police) advise citizens of the European Union that due to technical reasons, from today until the removal of this notice, there will be no Certificates of Registration of EU citizens issued. (This document replaces the old residencia - and is commonly referred to as a “green paper”)

On Tuesday 30 October 2007, almost a week after the stationary ran out, that the British consul’s office was advised an emergency supply – “about enough to last a week” – had arrived that morning.
A spokeswoman for the British Consulate has said: “Neither we nor the National Police know when or if adequate fresh supplies will arrive from Madrid and, even when they do, there is no guarantee that this sort of thing won’t happen again.”

You would be well advised to check the day before you intend to make a trip to the Southern Tenerife "Comisaria" If at all possible I will advise of changes to this situation on this website.

 


 
16 years living and working on the island, I am not a qualified solicitor nor do I pretend to be one!, but I can help you with registering at the doctors and any day to day transactions with most public bodies, including the Police or Guardia Civil, Trafico, Extranjeria, Utility companies and the local councils, for a sensible fee - 25 euros an hour, and more importantly I know where to obtain trusted, professional advice and can translate for you, should that become necessary. -- Di McGlone

The One Stop Problem Shop

Don't have the right paperwork?
Don't speak Spanish?
Don't know where to turn?
Don't worry! Let me take care of your problems.
Driving licence, NIE, Certificate of Residence, Car and Boat transfers, Certificate of empadronamiento, Medical visits or any other problems you may have. I will hold your hand every step of the way.
Phone Diana McGlone on: (0034) 922867478 or Mobile: (0034) 647057599 or email help@diana-mcglone.com

Main office in Calle Los Ángeles, Puerto Santiago, Regular Surgery held in Palm Mar. All other Tenerife locations covered by appointment.

I will accompany you every step of the way!

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 USEFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERS AND LINKS

 

EMERGENCIES DIAL 112

Official Tenerife Tourist Board website
Trading Standards Local Offices Oficinas Municipales de Informacion (OMIC) http://www.consumo-inc.es/directorio/INTERIOR/OMIC/OMIC.htm
Chamber of Commerce Santa Cruz http://www.camaratenerife.com/asesoria.cfm?idioma=eng
DUTY CHEMISTS http://www.farmaciascanarias.com/farmguardia.cfm?isla=tenerife
Hospitals

Complejo hospitalario nuestra señora de candelaria, Ctra. del rosario, s/n. 38010 Santa cruz de tenerife

Patient enquiries 922 60 21 35

Emergency department enquiries 922 60 21 32

Hospiten Sur Las Americas 922 75 00 22 general enquiries switchboard http://www.hospiten.es
British Consulate

Public Office Hours:

Winter: 9 - 14:00
Summer: 9 - 13.00 Mon/Friday

Santa Cruz de Tenerife

British Consulate
Plaza Weyler, 8, 1º
38003 Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Tel.: 922 28 68 63
Fax: 922 28 99 03

download passport application forms here

Lost or stolen passport form click here

Commercial Information - Canary Islands:
www.uktradeinvest.gov.uk/canary_islands

E-mail: tenerife.enquiries@fco.gov.uk

European Health Card and E121 UK government - Advice for Travellers
Church of the Holy Spirit (Espirito Santo) Village Square - Los Gigantes Part of: Tenerife Sur (Tenerife South)
HCb 1800; HCb 1030 (Thursdays)
Father Keith Gordon, Anglican priest for
TENERIFE SUR (TENERIFE SOUTH):
St Eugenio
WEB SITE: www.tenerifechurch.com
Priest-in-Charge: The Reverend Keith Gordon
Reidencial Sonia #17
Calle El Mojon
Callao Salvaje
38678 Adeje
Tenerife

email: kagordon40@hotmail.com
REINA SOFIA AIRPORT Reina Sofia Airport - Tenerife South,
38610 Granadilla de Abona,
Tenerife,
Spain


Location: The airport is located in the south of the island, 60km (37.5 miles) from the capital, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, in the north

Telephone: (0)922 759 200
Fax: (0)922 759 247

E-mail: infotfs@aena.es
Website: www.aena.es

Country code: 34
Airport code: TFS

AENA Flight Information in Real Time CLICK HERE
LOS RODEOS AIRPORT Tenerife North situated 11 kilometres from Santa Cruz Tel
922 635 999
922 635 635
Taxi Rank Los Gigantes PARADA TAXIS LOS GIGANTES 922861627 http://www.losgigantestaxis.com