Guide
The Six-Month Deadline: How to Avoid Inheritance Tax Surcharges in Spain
Missing Spain's six-month inheritance tax deadline triggers automatic surcharges of 5–20%. Everything you need to know to act in time.
Guides & Advice
Plain-English guides on every aspect of inheriting in Spain — from the six-month deadline to regional tax rules, foreign wills and country-specific advice for families across the world.
Essential Guides
Missing Spain's six-month inheritance tax deadline triggers automatic surcharges of 5–20%. Everything you need to know to act in time.
You can manage an entire Spanish inheritance without setting foot in Spain. We explain how the power of attorney works from any country.
The EU Succession Regulation changed the rules for cross-border inheritances in Europe. We explain professio iuris, the European Certificate of Succession and more.
Every heir needs a NIE before the Spanish inheritance process can proceed. Here is how to get one from the UK, USA, Germany, Netherlands or anywhere else.
If you have inherited property in Spain and want to sell it — CGT, the 3% buyer retention, plusvalía municipal, and the correct order of steps explained.
Spanish inheritance includes debts as well as assets. How mortgages, unpaid IBI, community fees and personal debts affect heirs — and your three options.
When several heirs are involved and spread across different countries, coordination is critical. How we manage multi-heir estates remotely.
United Kingdom
Everything a UK resident needs to know when a family member dies owning assets in Spain — deadlines, taxes, power of attorney and more.
Brexit changed the rules for British nationals with assets in Spain. We explain the impact on succession law and why a Spanish will is now more important than ever.
A practical guide for London-based heirs on managing a Spanish estate remotely — from obtaining documents to signing at the Spanish consulate.
How Manchester residents can manage a Spanish estate from the UK — a step-by-step guide to the process, timeline and costs.
For Birmingham-based families dealing with a property inheritance in Spain — what to do in the first weeks and how to avoid the six-month penalty.
A practical guide for Leeds and Yorkshire families dealing with a Spanish estate — power of attorney, NIE numbers and Spanish inheritance tax.
For Bristol and South West families dealing with a Spanish inheritance — the process, deadlines, inheritance tax and how to manage everything remotely.
Scottish succession law differs from English law. We explain the interaction between Scots law and Spanish succession rules for Edinburgh-based heirs.
Germany
A complete guide for German residents dealing with a Spanish inheritance — how Spanish law interacts with German succession rules and what the EU regulation means for you.
A detailed comparison with worked examples of how the double taxation treaty between Spain and Germany affects what German heirs pay.
Step-by-step guidance for Munich-based heirs on how to handle a Spanish inheritance remotely — documents, power of attorney, taxes and timeline.
Frankfurt-based heirs inheriting property or assets in Spain face a dual legal system. We explain which country's law applies and how to minimise the tax.
Berlin residents inheriting property or assets in Spain — which law applies, how the Germany-Spain tax treaty works, and how to manage the process from Germany.
Step-by-step guidance for Hamburg-based heirs — the Germany-Spain tax treaty, European Certificate of Succession, and the full process from Northern Germany.
Netherlands
Everything a Dutch resident needs to know when inheriting assets in Spain — which country's law applies, what documents you need and how the process works.
How much Spanish inheritance tax do Dutch heirs pay? Which reductions apply? Can you claim a credit in the Netherlands? All answered here with worked examples.
A practical guide for Amsterdam-based heirs on managing a Spanish estate remotely — deadlines, notary procedures, power of attorney and tax implications.
Rotterdam residents inheriting in Spain face a bilingual legal process across two jurisdictions. We explain how to manage it efficiently from the Netherlands.
United States
A complete guide for US residents inheriting assets in Spain — from opening the estate to paying taxes and transferring property to your name.
US citizens inheriting foreign financial accounts in Spain have additional IRS reporting obligations. We explain FBAR, FATCA and Form 3520 in plain English.
New York-based heirs with a Spanish estate face an unusual combination of legal systems. We break down the process step by step.
Miami has a large Spanish-speaking community with ties to Spain. We explain the inheritance process for Florida residents dealing with a Spanish estate.
Los Angeles-based heirs inheriting property in Spain — how to manage the process across nine time zones and two legal systems without travelling to Spain.
A guide for Chicago-based families on handling a Spanish inheritance — the six-month deadline, tax obligations in both countries and how we manage everything remotely.
Ireland & France
A complete guide for Irish residents — which law applies, Spanish inheritance tax for Irish heirs, CAT coordination, and the full process explained.
A complete guide for French residents — EU Succession Regulation, the French-Spanish bilateral tax treaty, professio iuris, and how the process works.
Trusts & Spanish Law
Spain does not recognise trusts as legal entities. We explain what this means for UK and US trust beneficiaries inheriting Spanish assets — AEAT treatment, Modelo 720, sanctions and the critical importance of specialist advice.
If you are a beneficiary of a foreign trust and become a Spanish tax resident, you face complex obligations. DGT consultations, TEAC rulings, Supreme Court case law and the risk of severe sanctions explained.
When a trust distributes assets to a Spanish-resident beneficiary, Spanish inheritance and gift tax may apply. We explain the ISD treatment of trust distributions and what steps to take.
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