France vs Spain.

Listed shares

31.4% flat (12.8% income tax plus 18.6% social)

Gain on realisation carries tax at the flat investment charge of 31.4% from 1 Jan 2026. For this case, same treatment for French and foreign directly held shares held by a resident.

Fund and ETF units

31.4% flat

The rate line above gives the resident result. The rule is tested when the asset is sold or otherwise disposed of.

Holding period and allowances

Taxable under the ordinary rule

The rate line above gives the resident result. The rule is tested when the asset is sold or otherwise disposed of.

Losses

Taxable under the ordinary rule

This applies if unused, carry forward for 10 years against future securities gains.

Foreign and US listings

31.4% on gain

A resident's gain on a foreign or US-listed share/ETF carries tax at the 31.4% flat investment charge just like a French holding. Most treaties leave a listed-share gain taxable only in France (residence). Check the treaty for source tax and France's relief.

Accumulating funds and annual tax

No separate rule

An accumulating EU-regulated retail fund is not taxed on retained income. The individual is taxed only when units are sold (or a distribution is received), at the 31.4% flat investment charge.

French company dividend

Taxable under the ordinary rule

The rate line above gives the resident result. The rule is tested when the income is received.

Foreign listed-share dividend

31.4% flat investment charge

The rate line above gives the resident result. The rule is tested when the income is received. The treaty can change source-country tax and relief.

EU or EEA company dividend

No safe answer yet

No safe answer is shown for this exact case yet. Check the facts and treaty before relying on a result.

Third-country company dividend

No safe answer yet

No safe answer is shown for this exact case yet. Check the facts and treaty before relying on a result.

Passive or substantial holding

31.4% at any holding size

France has no minority-vs-substantial split for an individual's dividend rate: the flat investment charge (or income-tax bands option) applies at 31.4% no matter the stake held. Holding size instead matters elsewhere.

Fund or ETF distribution

31.4% flat investment charge

A distributing fund/ETF payment is taxed as investment income at the 31.4% flat investment charge (or income-tax bands). Accumulating funds defer tax until the units are sold.

New-resident treatment

50% exemption of foreign dividends (impatriate workers, 8 yrs)

The rate line above gives the resident result. The rule is tested when the income is received.

Sale for money

31.4% flat investment charge (income-tax bands option via box 3CN)

A sale of a digital asset to fiat within private wealth management carries tax at the 31.4% flat investment charge. This taxable gain is computed on a total-portfolio pro-rata basis at each cash-out.

Crypto-to-crypto exchange

Sursis (not taxed in the year of exchange)

An exchange of one digital asset for another without cash out (échange sans soulte) benefits from a sursis d'imposition. It is not a taxable event in the year of the swap.

Spending crypto

31.4% flat investment charge

Using crypto to pay for goods or services is a disposal against a good (with soulte). It is a taxable realisation at the 31.4% flat investment charge, unlike a pure crypto-to-crypto swap which is deferred.

Holding relief and losses

Taxable under the ordinary rule

The rate line above gives the resident result. The rule is tested when the asset is sold or otherwise disposed of.

Staking and lending

Taxable under the ordinary rule

Staking and lending rewards fall outside the private-crypto rule (which covers disposals). They are treated as income, generally bénéfices non commerciaux (non-commercial income), taxed at progressive rates on receipt at market value.

Mining, validation and airdrops

Taxable under the ordinary rule

Mining/validation rewards are taxable as non-commercial income on receipt at market value (with a micro-non-commercial income or régime réel expense route). Airdrops are income on receipt.

Private investor or business

150 the private-crypto rule 31.4% (private) vs non-commercial income progressive (professional)

The rate line above gives the resident result. The rule is tested when the relevant tax event occurs.

Wealth tax and departure tax

Outside real-estate wealth tax and outside bis

Crypto is not in the real-estate wealth tax base, real-estate wealth tax reaches biens et droits immobiliers only. A large crypto holding carries no annual wealth tax (a different treatment, where crypto sits in the wealth base at full value).

New-resident treatment

No safe answer yet

No safe answer is shown for this exact case yet. Check the facts and treaty before relying on a result.

France pension

Progressive income-tax bands after 10% abatement

A domestic pension is taxed as pension income at the household's progressive income-tax bands after a 10% abatement (capped per household, roughly €4,300–4,400/yr). Collected via the monthly withholding (payroll withholding).

Foreign state or social-security pension

Income-tax bands

A foreign state or social-security pension is, absent a treaty override, taxable in France as pension income (income-tax bands after 10%). This treaty decides whether France must exempt it (often with progression) or give a credit.

Foreign occupational or private pension

Income-tax bands

There is no reduced rate for being foreign, and no French special-regime for foreign pensions. Check the treaty for source tax and France's relief.

Foreign government or civil-service pension

Usually source-state taxed

The rate line above gives the resident result. The rule is tested when the income is received. The treaty can change source-country tax and relief.

Foreign pension lump sum

Special rule

For a French-plan lump sum, bis allows an option for a 7.5% libératoire rate (after a 10% abatement) instead of the income-tax bands, subject to conditions. Some treaties have a specific lump-sum clause.

Special foreign-pension rule

No separate rule

France has no special or reduced regime for foreign pension income. The impatriate regime is a worker perk covering employment income and foreign passive investment income, not pensions.

Company profit

Taxable under the ordinary rule

A French company pays 25% company tax. A qualifying small company pays 15% on its first €42,500 of profit.

Distribution from a French company

31.4% flat investment charge (integrated about 48% with company tax)

The rate line above gives the resident result. The rule is tested when the income is received.

Distribution from a foreign company

31.4% plus tax taken abroad

A dividend from the owner's foreign company carries tax at the 31.4% flat investment charge for the individual (no individual participation exemption, even EEA). A treaty credit for tax taken in the source country.

Foreign entity type

Special rule

France can look through a foreign partnership-type entity and tax its partners directly. Anti-abuse and controlled-foreign-company rules can produce a different result for other structures.

Ownership threshold

Special rule

The rate line above gives the resident result. The rule is tested when the relevant tax event occurs.

Sale of your company stake

Taxable under the ordinary rule

The rate line above gives the resident result. The rule is tested when the asset is sold or otherwise disposed of.

Salary or director fee

Income-tax bands

Salary or managing-director remuneration uses the progressive income-tax bands, after a 10% work-expense deduction or actual expenses. Social contributions apply separately.

Social contributions and remuneration risk

Special rule

A majority managing director of a private company is normally within the self-employed social-insurance system. Mandatory contributions apply to remuneration, and some dividends can also enter that base.

Running the company from France

Special rule

Running a foreign company day to day from France can make it French tax-resident through its place of effective management.

Controlled foreign company rules

Special rule

Two controlled foreign companies layers. A French company holding more than 50% of a foreign entity under a privileged tax regime (taxed at least 40% below French tax) is taxed on that entity's profits.

New-resident treatment

Impatriate 50% foreign-dividend exemption (worker-gated)

The impatriate regime can exempt 50% of foreign-source dividends for a qualifying inbound worker for 8 years. This rule could touch distributions from the owner's own foreign company.

Review the company and your personal position together before the move.

Property in France

Progressive plus 17.2% social charges

French rental income uses the household's progressive bands plus 17.2% social charges. Gross rent below €15,000 can use a flat 30% expense deduction.

Property abroad

Income-tax bands

The rate line above gives the resident result. The rule is tested when the income is received. The treaty can change source-country tax and relief.

EU or EEA property branch

No safe answer yet

No safe answer is shown for this exact case yet. Check the facts and treaty before relying on a result.

Rental deductions

Micro 30% flat vs réel actual plus déficit foncier

A landlord chooses between the 30% standard deduction and actual expenses. The actual-expense route can offset up to €10,700 against other income. Furnished letting (lmnp) allows depreciation (amortissement), which unfurnished bare letting does not.

France main home

Fully exempt

This gain on the seller's résidence principale at the date of sale is totally exempt from both income tax and social contributions, with no holding condition.

France investment or second property

Taxable under the ordinary rule

A second home or investment property gain carries tax at 19% income tax plus 17.2% social contributions. A durée-de-détention abatement runs from year 6.

Foreign property

Taxable under the ordinary rule

The rate line above gives the resident result. The rule is tested when the asset is sold or otherwise disposed of. The treaty can change source-country tax and relief.

Foreign EU or EEA property branch

No safe answer yet

No safe answer is shown for this exact case yet. Check the facts and treaty before relying on a result.

Foreign third-country property branch

No safe answer yet

No safe answer is shown for this exact case yet. Check the facts and treaty before relying on a result.

Main-home conditions

Full exemption if résidence principale at sale

This exemption requires the property to be the seller's actual résidence principale at the date of sale (a normal sale delay after moving out is tolerated). The specific carve also exempts a first non-principal-home sale under conditions of reinvestment/not owning the principal home.

Starting value after a move

Historic acquisition cost (no arrival step-up)

The rate line above gives the resident result. The rule is tested when the asset is sold or otherwise disposed of.

France royalties

Income-tax bands

Royalties are generally bénéfices non commerciaux taxed at the progressive income-tax bands. An author's droits d'auteur can use micro-non-commercial income (34% deduction) or the déclaration contrôlée.

Foreign royalties

Income-tax bands

Foreign royalties are taxed in France at the income-tax bands (as non-commercial income) with a treaty credit for tax taken in the source country. Many treaties cap royalty withholding tax (often 0–10%).

Which rights qualify

Income-tax bands

For this case, scope spans droits d'auteur (copyright/literary/artistic), brevets (patents) and marques/licences. Author copyright income has its own assessment path and social scheme.

Passive or active

Non-commercial income passive vs professional author plus social

A passive royalty (for example inherited copyright, occasional licence) is non-commercial income without professional social charges. An active/professional author or licensor is a self-employed person owing artist-author or self-employed social contributions on top of income tax.

Social contributions and value-added tax

Special rule

The ordinary resident rule applies when the taxable event occurs. Check the stated conditions before using the rate line.

Employment in France

Income-tax bands

Salary for work physically performed in France carries tax at the progressive income-tax bands after a 10% professional deduction (or actual expenses), collected monthly via the monthly withholding. Employee social contributions of roughly 20–23% are withheld before income tax.

Remote work for a foreign employer

Income-tax bands

A French resident working remotely for a foreign employer is taxed in France on that employment income (worldwide basis). Treaty relief for any tax in the work state.

Self-employment and consulting

Income-tax bands

Self-employment/consulting carries tax at the progressive income-tax bands as trading income or non-commercial income. A micro regime (34% non-commercial income / 50% trading income-services deduction under turnover thresholds) or régime réel.

Director fees

Income-tax bands

Jetons de présence / directors' fees are a separate treaty category, generally taxable in the company's state. Domestically they carry tax at the income-tax bands.

New-resident worker rule

Prime exemption plus 50% foreign passive income, 8 yrs

The rate line above gives the resident result. The rule is tested when the income is received.

Listed shares

19 / 21 / 23 / 27 / 30% (savings base)

A directly held listed-share gain uses the full 19–30% savings-income scale shown above. Identical securities use first-in, first-out matching.

Fund and ETF units

19–30% (savings base)

A qualifying retail-fund gain uses the 19–30% savings-income scale. A qualifying switch into another fund defers the gain and carries forward the acquisition value and date.

Holding period and allowances

No holding-period discount

Spain grants no holding-period relief on securities gains. A share held one day and one held twenty years face the same 19–30% savings scale.

Losses

Different rules apply

Capital losses net against capital gains within the savings base. A net loss may then offset up to 25% of the savings-base returns on movable capital (dividends/interest) in the year, and any remainder carries forward 4 years.

Foreign and US listings

19–30% (savings base)

A resident's gain on foreign/US listed shares is taxed the same as domestic. Most treaties leave a listed-securities gain to the residence state, so foreign tax on the gain is uncommon. Check the treaty for source tax and Spain's relief.

Accumulating funds and annual tax

Taxed only on disposal (no annual deemed charge)

Spain has no annual deemed-distribution or advance-tax on an accumulating fund's fund income for individual investors. An accumulating fund is taxed only on disposal, as a 19–30% savings-base gain.

Spanish company dividend

19 / 21 / 23 / 27 / 30% (savings base)

The dividend from a Spanish-resident company is capital mobiliario income in the savings base at 19–30%. This payer applies a 19% withholding on account, credited in the annual return.

Foreign listed-share dividend

19–30% (savings base)

The rate line above gives the resident result. The rule is tested when the income is received. The treaty can change source-country tax and relief.

Passive or substantial holding

19–30% regardless of holding size

The rate line above gives the resident result. The rule is tested when the income is received.

Fund or ETF distribution

19–30% (savings base)

A fund or ETF distribution is investment income taxed at 19–30%. A Spanish payer withholds 19%, while qualifying fund reinvestment can defer a gain.

New-resident treatment

Special rule

An eligible inbound worker is taxed under the non-resident income-tax rules on Spanish-source income. Foreign dividends remain exempt in Spain for up to six years.

There is no separate rule here. Use the general foreign-income case, then check what the treaty says about the country paying the money.

Sale for money

19–30% (savings base)

The disposal of a virtual currency for euros or other legal-tender money is a capital gain in the savings base, taxed at 19 / 21 / 23 / 27 / 30%. This gain is the difference between transmission value and acquisition value.

Crypto-to-crypto exchange

19–30% (taxable exchange)

The rate line above gives the resident result. The rule is tested when the asset is sold or otherwise disposed of.

Spending crypto

19–30% (savings base)

The rate line above gives the resident result. The rule is tested when the asset is sold or otherwise disposed of.

Staking and lending

19–30% (capital mobiliario, savings base)

The rate line above gives the resident result. The rule is tested when the income is received.

Mining, validation and airdrops

Income-tax bands

The rate line above gives the resident result. The rule is tested when the income is received.

Private investor or business

Savings base (passive) vs general base plus self-employed social contributions (professional)

A passive investor uses the savings-income rules, while habitual organised trading or mining can become business income. Self-employed social contributions then apply.

Wealth tax and departure tax

Special rule

The rate line above gives the resident result. The rule is tested when the relevant tax event occurs.

New-resident treatment

Foreign crypto gains exempt (eligible inbound worker)

Under Beckham, foreign-source capital gains (which include gains on crypto held/disposed abroad) are exempt in Spain. Worldwide assets are outside Spanish wealth tax (only Spanish assets taxed).

Spain pension

Progressive about 19–47% (general base)

A Spanish-source pension is general-base income aggregated with other general income and taxed at progressive rates (the state scale to 24.5% plus the autonomic scale, top about 47%). For this case, pension income qualifies for the general employment/pension deduction (rendimientos del trabajo) but has no flat rate.

Foreign state or social-security pension

Progressive up to about 47% (subject to treaty)

A foreign state or social-security pension is included in worldwide general-base income at progressive rates once the reference person is an ordinary Spanish resident. Many treaties give the residence state the taxing right over social-security pensions, some reserve them to the source state.

Foreign occupational or private pension

Progressive up to about 47% (residence usually taxes)

The rate line above gives the resident result. The rule is tested when the income is received. The treaty can change source-country tax and relief.

Foreign government or civil-service pension

Usually source-state only

A government/civil-service pension has its own treaty article: it is usually taxable only in the paying (source) state. This applies unless the recipient is a Spanish national and resident, in which case Spain taxes and the source state steps back.

Foreign pension lump sum

No safe answer yet

No safe answer is shown for this exact case yet. Check the facts and treaty before relying on a result.

Special foreign-pension rule

None for a retiree (Beckham needs a work trigger)

Spain has no special foreign-pension regime for a relocating retiree. The Beckham regime would exempt foreign pension income (Spanish-source income only) but is available only.

Company profit

Taxable under the ordinary rule

A Spanish company pays corporate income tax (company tax) at 25% general. For this case, newly created companies pay 15% for the first profitable year and the next. In 2025 a qualifying small company pays 24% and a micro company with under €1 million of turnover 21–22%, both rates still tapering down.

Distribution from a Spanish company

19–30% (savings base)

The distribution from the owner's Spanish company is a dividend in the savings base at 19–30%, with a 19% withholding on account. The corporate-level tax already paid is not credited at the personal level (classic economic double taxation).

Distribution from a foreign company

19–30% (savings base)

The rate line above gives the resident result. The rule is tested when the income is received. The treaty can change source-country tax and relief.

Foreign entity type

Special rule

Spain generally respects a foreign company as opaque, but a transparent foreign vehicle (partnership, US limited liability company, certain funds) can be looked through. The transparencia fiscal internacional rules can attribute the foreign company's passive income to the Spanish resident before any distribution.

Ownership threshold

Special rule

Thresholds that matter for the owner (not for the dividend rate). Controlled foreign companies bites at more than 50% control of a low-taxed foreign entity with passive income.

Sale of your company stake

19–30% (savings base)

For this case, sale of the owner's shares is a savings-base gain at 19–30%. This applies if the owner instead leaves Spain holding the stake.

Salary or director fee

Income-tax bands

Salary from the owner's company is general-base employment income at progressive rates (about 47% top). Director fees are also general-base employment income domestically and have their own cross-border treaty article (directors' fees).

Social contributions and remuneration risk

Special rule

A controlling owner-director normally enters the self-employed social-security system. Its minimum monthly contribution base is higher than the ordinary self-employed base.

Running the company from Spain

Special rule

Running a foreign company from Spain can make it Spanish tax-resident when its effective management and control sit there, or create a Spanish permanent establishment. That can expose worldwide company profit or the establishment's profit to Spanish corporate tax.

Controlled foreign company rules

Special rule

Spain's transparencia fiscal internacional attributes a low-taxed foreign controlled company's passive income to the Spanish resident before distribution. This applies where control exceeds 50% and the foreign tax is under 75% of the Spanish tax that would apply (with an EU-substance carve-out).

New-resident treatment

Foreign distributions exempt (eligible inbound worker)

The rate line above gives the resident result. The rule is tested when the relevant tax event occurs.

Review the company and your personal position together before the move.

Property in Spain

General base, up to about 47%

Net rental income (rent minus deductible expenses including mortgage interest, repairs, depreciation at 3%) is general-base income at progressive rates. For a dwelling let as a habitual residence a 60% reduction applies on net income.

Property abroad

General base up to about 47%

The rate line above gives the resident result. The rule is tested when the income is received. The treaty can change source-country tax and relief.

Rental deductions

60% residential reduction (tiered 50 / 60 / 70 / 90% from 2024)

The rate line above gives the resident result. The rule is tested when the income is received.

There is no separate rule here. Use the general foreign-income case, then check what the treaty says about the country paying the money.

Spain main home

19–30% (savings base)

A gain on the Spanish main home is savings-base income at 19–30%. Exempt if the full proceeds are reinvested in a new main home within 2 years, or entirely exempt if the seller is 65 or older.

Spain investment or second property

19–30% (savings base)

A Spanish investment-property gain uses the 19–30% savings-income scale without the main-home exemption. A separate municipal tax on urban land-value growth can also apply.

Foreign property

19–30% (savings base), source credit

The resident's gain on foreign property is savings-base income at 19–30%. Immovable property is normally taxable first in the situs state. Check the treaty for source tax and Spain's relief.

Main-home conditions

Exempt under the ordinary rule

This case is exempt when the stated conditions are met. The holding period, asset type or treaty can change that result.

Starting value after a move

Historic cost (no arrival step-up)

Spain does not rebase property to market value on arrival. The acquisition value remains historic cost, so pre-move appreciation is taxed on a later disposal while resident.

New-resident treatment

Foreign property gains exempt (eligible inbound worker)

Under Beckham, foreign-property gains are exempt in Spain (Spanish-source only) for eligible inbound workers. A Spanish-property gain remains taxed at non-resident income tax rates.

There is no separate rule here. Use the general foreign-income case, then check what the treaty says about the country paying the money.

Spain royalties

General base (creator) or 19–30% savings base (assignor)

Royalties a creator earns from their own work are general-base income (rendimientos del trabajo or actividad economica), taxed progressively. Royalties from ceding the use of intellectual/industrial property you did not create are rendimientos del capital mobiliario in the savings base at 19–30%.

Foreign royalties

General base or 19–30% plus source credit

The source state may withhold, relieved by credit up to Spanish tax. Check the treaty for source tax and Spain's relief.

Which rights qualify

Different rules apply

The savings-base treatment covers income from ceding the use of copyright, patents, trademarks, know-how and similar to third parties. This applies where the recipient is not the author and it is not a business activity.

Passive or active

Savings base (passive) vs general base plus self-employed social contributions (active)

The rate line above gives the resident result. The rule is tested when the relevant tax event occurs.

Social contributions and value-added tax

Special rule

Royalties from a self-employed creative activity attract self-employed social contributions. The licensing supply can also fall within value-added tax.

Employment in Spain

Progressive about 19–47% plus about 6.5% employee social security

Employment income earned while working in Spain is general-base income at progressive rates (about 47% top). Employee social-security contributions around 6.5% (capped) and large employer contributions (about 30.65% plus accident rate).

Remote work for a foreign employer

Income-tax bands

The Spanish resident working remotely for a foreign employer is taxed on that employment income in the general base at progressive rates (worldwide employment income). The foreign employer risks creating a Spanish permanent establishment or a payroll/social-security obligation.

Self-employment and consulting

General base up to about 47% plus income-based self-employed social contributions

The rate line above gives the resident result. The rule is tested when the income is received.

Director fees

Income-tax bands

Director fees are general-base income and have their own cross-border treaty article (directors' fees). This rule typically lets the company's country of residence tax them no matter where the director works.

New-resident worker rule

Special rule

The rate line above gives the resident result. The rule is tested when the income is received.