[News] Spain plans 100% tax on non-EU owned homes

hart's shirt said:

Quite so.

People should ignore lazy tropes about expats. We're not living in the British Raj with tiffin and exceptionalism. And you've got to moisturize.

Having lived in the ME for 16 years including before and after Brexit, nostalgic patriotism for the home country is often seen in seeing things as they were.

That includes remaining in the EU. Pretty much every Brit that I've come across there still can't believe that those living in Britain voted to leave.

For me and thousands of other British expats, being in the EU is an essential part of being British. We live the connection with other countries every day.

Brexit continues to be both the most astonishing act of economic self-sabotage and also the theft of part of the nation's identity as 'a piece of the continent, a part of the main'.

Britain is paying a heavy price both for its isolationist decision then and for the conspiracy of silence across the house to reverse this catastrophe now.

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Cordwainer said:

On threads such as this, it’s always really good to have people post their actual lived experiences like yourself and Bakero..having two teens who are keen on travel and working in Europe, the dumb f@#kery of Brexit never ceases to amaze. What’s the ME?

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Cordwainer said:

On threads such as this, it’s always really good to have people post their actual lived experiences like yourself and Bakero..having two teens who are keen on travel and working in Europe, the dumb f@#kery of Brexit never ceases to amaze. What’s the ME?

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Herr Tubthumper said:

The saddest thing about Brexit for me is the fact it’s now nigh-on impossible for British youngsters to simply up sticks and spend some time working in Europe. You could do this on a whim in the past, zero paperwork. I don’t necessarily mean work-work either, more casual stuff working in a cafe for the summer, working in the mountains etc. I spend a lot of my spare time in cafes and bars and had spoken to many young Brits who were working there simply because it made a change to a summer job in Aldi or B&Q, or they wanted to travel, have an adventure and wanted a different experience and earn some money along the way. I now can’t recall the last time I spoke to a Brit like this. It’s very sad. Starmer even turned down an offer from the EU where young Brits could get visas in the EU if it were reciprcosted in the U.K…..scandalous.

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Herr Tubthumper said:

The saddest thing about Brexit for me is the fact it’s now nigh-on impossible for British youngsters to simply up sticks and spend some time working in Europe. You could do this on a whim in the past, zero paperwork. I don’t necessarily mean work-work either, more casual stuff working in a cafe for the summer, working in the mountains etc. I spend a lot of my spare time in cafes and bars and had spoken to many young Brits who were working there simply because it made a change to a summer job in Aldi or B&Q, or they wanted to travel, have an adventure and wanted a different experience and earn some money along the way. I now can’t recall the last time I spoke to a Brit like this. It’s very sad. Starmer even turned down an offer from the EU where young Brits could get visas in the EU if it were reciprcosted in the U.K…..scandalous.

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Herr Tubthumper said:

The saddest thing about Brexit for me is the fact it’s now nigh-on impossible for British youngsters to simply up sticks and spend some time working in Europe. You could do this on a whim in the past, zero paperwork. I don’t necessarily mean work-work either, more casual stuff working in a cafe for the summer, working in the mountains etc. I spend a lot of my spare time in cafes and bars and had spoken to many young Brits who were working there simply because it made a change to a summer job in Aldi or B&Q, or they wanted to travel, have an adventure and wanted a different experience and earn some money along the way. I now can’t recall the last time I spoke to a Brit like this. It’s very sad. Starmer even turned down an offer from the EU where young Brits could get visas in the EU if it were reciprcosted in the U.K…..scandalous.

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Nigella's Cream Pie said:

This could be the end of 'A Place in the Sun'

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Blues Guitarist said:

"Non-resident" mean someone who is not living there. It's a statement about where you reside, not about legal status.

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Herr Tubthumper said:

Probably in Benidorm and Torremolinos though. I can’t imagine too many Spanish families wanting to reside amongst endless cafes selling full English breakfasts, roast dinners and spaghetti bolognese with chips .

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Smile said:

A Spanish solicitor sent me this today which puts it into perspective.

We have recently heard concerning news regarding potential government measures that may make it more difficult—or even impossible—for non-EU citizens to purchase property in Spain. Additionally, there is talk of imposing a 100% tax on property purchases by these citizens.

Firstly, it is important to note that this information stems from a speech given yesterday by the Spanish Prime Minister. At this stage, these are political statements rather than concrete legal measures. This is comparable to the approach often taken by British politicians with so-called "green papers." Such statements are intended to draw public attention and garner political support—particularly, in this case, from hard-left voters and thinkers—without immediate legal implications or short-term implementation.

While this situation warrants attention, there are two key reasons why we should remain cautious but not overly alarmed:

Parliamentary Approval Required:
Any such measures would need to be submitted to the Spanish Parliament for approval. The current government relies on the support of several smaller parties, including a conservative Catalonian party that opposes such initiatives. Without their backing, these measures are unlikely to advance.

Regional Implementation:
Real estate regulations and taxation fall under the jurisdiction of regional governments rather than the national government. The regions of Murcia, Valencia, and Andalusia, currently governed by conservative administrations, are unlikely to implement such measures even if they are approved nationally. For instance, a previous real estate law passed several months ago received minimal attention because the regional government in Murcia chose not to apply it.

In light of these points, there is no immediate cause for significant concern. This appears to be more of a political manoeuvre aimed at deflecting attention from current challenges faced by the national government rather than a genuine attempt to penalize non-EU citizens interested in purchasing property in Spain.

Rest assured, I will keep you informed of any further developments from the government on this matter. In the meantime, I encourage you to avoid undue worry or alarm.

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Nigella's Cream Pie said:

This could be the end of 'A Place in the Sun'

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papachris said:

I thought the same for a moment but actually they are in lots of different countries, not only Spain

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Hamilton said:

I know more than a few who had homes abroad before Brexit and who do not have dual citizenship. Such a Tex would have an effect on them.

These taxes are never good for inward investment. There’s a difference between affecting the price of properties for Spaniards and a blanket tax like this. Sounds like he’s playing to the domestic crowd.

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portlock seagull said:

But they won't be affected will they? Because they have dual nationality, or at least should have if they lived there before Brexit. This will surely only affect anyone post Brexit thinking of moving there. And anyway, people from all over the world move there including millions of illegal immigrants. Sure it's aimed at them more than a few leathery Sun readers (not my words). Still, any opportunity to blame everything and anything on Brexit it seems

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Seagull58 said:

It's nothing to do with dual citizenship. It's to do with legal residence. Brits residing in the EU before Brexit were entitled to claim residence under the withdrawal agreement. The ones who lived the majority of each year in the country mainly did so but some chose not to do so (there are tax implications, for example) and so are now limited to 90 days in each 180 on a rolling basis.

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happypig said:

Are you just being dense ?
Pre-brexit I could get reciprocal healthcare in the EU and it was free to me, as it was free to EU citizens in the UK.

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happypig said:

Go on, champ, give me a list of countries that I could move to now that offer what Spain offered pre-Brexit. To make it simple my requirements are free healthcare, average winter temperature around 18C, reachable by plane in 4 hours (or by train in 36-48).

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portlock seagull said:

Wooo, keep it civil.

Reciprocal yes. But you paid in the UK. You wrote “free”. Now you’d have to pay over there using insurance. You’re still paying something, somewhere, somehow. Nowhere is free. If they find me unconscious in the street I’d be saved at a hospital before they asked for money. If didn’t have insurance then only self to blame or pay afterwards. Which would represent good value for money I suppose if saves yer life.

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Herr Tubthumper said:

I don’t think this is strictly true. The situation is EU citizens are entitled to the same healthcare as the locals when resident in another EU country.

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Seagull58 said:

If you are a resident you have access to the "free" national healthcare system.

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