Bizum payments, tourist apartments, maternity deductions: changes to 2022 income taxes

Spain's 2022 personal income and wealth tax campaign kicks off on April 11 and will last until the end of June with a few changes this year: Bizum payments of over €10,000 will have to be declared, as will earnings from apartments rented out to tourists, while there will also be a wider range of maternity deductions.

Over €10,000 in Bizum payments

One of the novelties this year is that Bizum payments of over €10,000 will now have to be declared when filing tax returns in Spain. This applies to both self-employed workers as well as those who are receiving payments in exchange for a service such as rent. 

The sale of second-hand items, if done regularly, will also have to be declared if earnings exceed the annual minimum wage exemption as it is considered an economic activity subject to taxation. 

"If we have old CDs that we sell over time, this can be considered an economic activity if it goes on over time and significant amounts are earned," Carme Elena, a member of Catalonia's Official College of Administrative Managers, told the Catalan News Agency (ACN). "At the end of the day, Bizum is a payment method."

Tourist rentals

This year residents will also have to report earnings on housing that is rented for days, that is to say, tourist accommodations. 

While not entirely new, the norm is being reinstated after being struck down in 2020 by Spain's Supreme Court. 

More maternity deductions

Women who have had a child in the past year will find they will be able to benefit from a wider range of maternity deductions, which will apply to those who have been furloughed, those who have permanent seasonal contracts and are not working, as well as self-employed workers whose business activities have ceased. 

This will also apply retroactively to those who had children in 2020 and 2021. 

Grant for low earners and targeted basic income

Anyone who received the recent €200 Spanish government grant for low earners will have to declare it, as will recipients of housing benefits or culture grants for young people, if altogether these add up to more than €1,000. 

Targeted basic income recipients must file tax returns too. "The Tax Office wants to be on top of the amount they earn to continue receiving this benefit," Elena said. 

Other novelties this year

Tax deductions for pension plans are now €1,500, down from €2,000 last year. This can be supplemented with contributions to company plans, in which case the right to deduction goes up to €8,500.

Those who have renovated their main residence may be entitled to a rebate as long as it was purchased before 2013, as is the case of people who rent their main residence and have a contract from 2014 or prior, invest in new companies, carry out renovation works to make buildings more energy efficient, or those who pay for affiliation or have donated to a political party, federations, unions, or professional guilds, among others. 

No changes for cryptocurrencies 

As was the case last year, any cryptocurrency operations (earnings, losses, or exchanges) must be reported, and they are taxed as capital gains.

Who has to pay taxes in Spain?

Anyone who lives in the country for more than 183 days a year is considered a resident.

Those who earn under €22,000 gross per year need not file a return unless they have earned over €14,000 from more than one source of income, including the unemployment office, and the second source of income has paid them over €1,500. 

A detailed list of who is exempt from paying income and wealth taxes in Spain can be found here. 

Key dates

• April 11 to June 30 to file personal income and wealth tax returns online.
• May 5 to June 30 to file personal income and wealth tax returns over the phone. Appointments can be made from May 3 to June 29. A complete list of documents you will need in order to file by telephone can be found here.
• June 1 to June 30 to file personal income and wealth tax in person at a Tax Agency office. Appointments can be made from May 25 to June 19. A complete list of documents you will need to bring with you can be found here. 

To make an appointment to file tax returns over the phone or in person, call any of the following numbers: 91 535 73 26, 901 12 12 24, 91 553 00 71, or 901 22 33 44.