Buying A Car In Spain

[rodthomson]

Hi i was wondering if anyone had any suggestions to a problem we are having.

Firstly I have just moved to Spain with my family.
I work in Africa for 9 months of the year and only come to Spain for 5 short vacations each year and do not pay Spanish taxes as i work out of Spain and work for an American Co.
My wife has been trying to get a NIE in order for us to buy a car... nothing else other than to buy a car.
As my wife does not work(we have a young baby) she cannot obtain a NIE as she has no proof of income. (I understand this as its combined to resdencia and they dont want people sponging from the state)
But there must be a way that we can buy a car without me having to pay Spanish tax??
If anyone has any ideas please share.

I have thought about buying a LHD car in UK and shipping and registering it here or perhaps buying a car in Gib and again registering in Spain- Any thought on this would also be appreciated

[jojo]

You do need an NIE and if you have been in Spain for more than 3 months. If you plan to live in Spain for more than 183 days a year, then you do have to pay Spanish taxes. If you dont you will effectively be an illegal immigrant - regardless of the car! But cos of your worldwide taxes you would be sensible to talk to a lawyer who can advise you

Jo xxx

[NickZ]

Originally Posted by rodthomson

As my wife does not work(we have a young baby) she cannot obtain a NIE as she has no proof of income. (I understand this as its combined to resdencia and they dont want people sponging from the state)
But there must be a way that we can buy a car without me having to pay Spanish tax??

Does this mean your family lives in Spain?

Agencia Tributaria - Residency issues

Third test

They have dependent not legally separated spouse and/or underage children who are usually resident in Spain.

[xabiachica]

if the wife & children live in Spain maybe set up a bank account & transfer funds on a monthly basis - although from NickZ's link the OP would have to submit a tax return in any case because they are considered as tax resident here

however - he wouldn't have to register as resident which is a totally different thing, if he is here less than 90 days at a time, as it seems he will be

but why not just register as resident anyway - the requirement is that you do if here for 90 days - there is nothing to say that you can't if you're not - & since you would be tax resident anyway, why not?

NB - being tax resident doesn't mean paying tax twice.......

[NickZ]

http://www.aeat.es/AEAT/Contenidos_C...irnringles.pdf

Page 5

Unless there is evidence to the contrary, an
individual shall be deemed to be a resident of
Spain if, in accordance with the aforementioned
criteria, his or her legally non-separated spouse
and dependent minor children have their principal
residence in Spain.

[rodthomson]

I am a resident of Nigeria (but i am British) Ie i have a Nigerian Residency and pay Nigerian Tax. I would never be in spain for more than a month at any 1 time.
Yes my wife stays here and we rent a house here in Spain... I class myself as a tourist to Spain which i think is fair.
We do not want any benifits but only to buy a car which i agree is going to be hard to prove and not ready to jump on the bandwagon like i guess so many have done.

[xabiachica]

Originally Posted by rodthomson

I am a resident of Nigeria (but i am British) Ie i have a Nigerian Residency and pay Nigerian Tax. I would never be in spain for more than a month at any 1 time.
Yes my wife stays here and we rent a house here in Spain... I class myself as a tourist to Spain which i think is fair.
We do not want any benifits but only to buy a car which i agree is going to be hard to prove and not ready to jump on the bandwagon like i guess so many have done.

yes, it is fair that you consider yourself a tourist

but your wife & children aren't - so for tax purposes neither are you, whether you like it or not - as I said - that doesn't mean actually paying tax here, necessarily

in order to buy a car you need a NIE number (which you can actually get as a non-resident) but in many areas now - & almost certainly everywhere eventually - you need a resident registration cert (which includes the NIE) as you seem to have discovered

it's nothing to do with 'jumping on a bandwagon' - it's a legal issue

surely your wife has a bank account here? if you are paying a sufficient & regular amount in then that should cover the income requirements - & from what you have said you probably have private healthcare- so that's sorted


I/we aren't doubting you when you say that you don't want any benefits (not that you'd get any even if there were any available) - but it's the Spanish govt. that you need to convince

[rodthomson]

Sorry if i came across that i was having a go... Im not.
Yes we have a joint account and my wages come straight from Dubai to our account in Spain.

I will need to look at the avenue of becoming resident but not paying tax and see how that looks.

Might be easier just getting the bus!! haha

[xabiachica]

Originally Posted by rodthomson

Sorry if i came across that i was having a go... Im not.
Yes we have a joint account and my wages come straight from Dubai to our account in Spain.

I will need to look at the avenue of becoming resident but not paying tax and see how that looks.

Might be easier just getting the bus!! haha

the bank statements should be enough then

your wife (& children) need(s) to register as resident - you don't have to

the tax thing is a totally seperate issue & you should make a tax return each year

as I said, you might not actually have to pay more - it depends on tax agreements between the countries involved

so far you have mentioned the US, Nigeria & now Dubai - sounds complicated & you should get a tax expert onto it IMO