21 Nov 2008 12:00 AM:
Hi everyone
Want some friendly advise about Working in Spain.....be very carefull.
Firstly you need to be legal, dispite what anyone may tell you about paying tax in England, being retired or any other reason they may come up with for not being in this system. Being legal is expensive, but it has benefits i.e. the social system and insurance etc... Autonomos means that you work for yourself, but watch out if you are a married couple as you cannot legally employ your spouse when you are autonomo. Your spouse has to go self employed as well and even if they are linked to your business they will still pay alot of money (175 euros a month in my case). Also, don´t forget that this is to be paid every month, whether you are earning or not. You can come off the system, but you have to pay to be re-registered. You have other options like having a LTD company, but this is too expensive for the small businesses!
Get yourself a good accountant / lawyer to set you up in the system. Go on recommendation from established business in the area.
You don´t have to just be careful about someone bubbling you for working illegally (this is happening alot now with people who are legal denouncing those who aren´t) The other thing about not being legal is the Control, who can pop up at any time. When Control come you have to give them your details (I assume they can ring the police if you refuse) and you can claim all you like that you are working for a mate, working for free, doing someone a favour....none of this will wash. These people report you to the local Hacienda and they check up to see if you are legal and registered to do that type of work. Because your profession is noted, they can also fine you for doing other work not related to it.
Please note that we are legal and have just been fined alot of money for letting a mate do us a favour and carry some heavy stuff for us. I have direct experience with these people and the authorities and can guarantee that anyone caught in any illegal situation will be fined. Also, there is no way of finding what is and isn´t legal until it happens to you, or to someone else you know.
Please take care, be legal, don´t risk it .... its not worth the hassle
Thread:
Watch out, watch out, the Control is about
--------------------------------------