Spain Income Tax Rates 2018-2019: Personal Tax, Capital Gains and Corporate Tax
A practical reference to Spanish tax rates for the 2018 calendar year, with updated explanations of resident and non-resident taxation and key changes reflected in official Spanish tax guidance through 2026.
Spanish income tax: scope and key laws
Spain's individual income tax is the Impuesto sobre la Renta de las Personas Físicas (IRPF), governed principally by Law 35/2006. Spanish tax residents generally report worldwide income, subject to exemptions and tax treaties. Non-residents are generally taxed on Spanish-source income under the Non-Resident Income Tax Law (Royal Legislative Decree 5/2004).
Under Article 9 of Law 35/2006, tax residence can arise from presence in Spain for more than 183 days in the calendar year or from the main centre of economic activities or interests being in Spain, subject to statutory presumptions and treaty tie-breakers. Article 63 sets the state general-income scale; Article 74 concerns the autonomous-community scale. Rates on employment and business income therefore depend partly on the taxpayer's autonomous community.
Spain personal income tax rates for 2018
The following widely quoted combined rates are an illustrative historical reference using a representative regional scale. They are not universal rates for every Spanish autonomous community. Tax is progressive: the marginal rate applies only to income within the relevant band, and personal and family allowances may change the tax payable.
| Taxable general income (EUR) | Illustrative combined rate | State component | Illustrative regional component |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 12,450 | 19% | 9.5% | 9.5% |
| 12,450 - 20,200 | 24% | 12% | 12% |
| 20,200 - 35,200 | 30% | 15% | 15% |
| 35,200 - 60,000 | 37% | 18.5% | 18.5% |
| Above 60,000 | 45% | 22.5% | 22.5% |
Important: The 37% historical row combines 18.5% state and 18.5% illustrative regional tax. The actual regional schedule for 2018 must be checked for the relevant autonomous community. Spanish tax years normally end on 31 December.
Spain capital gains tax for residents in 2018
Capital gains included in the savings tax base were generally taxed under the following 2018 progressive rates, subject to applicable exemptions, loss offsets and special rules:
| 2018 savings tax base (EUR) | Marginal rate |
|---|---|
| Up to 6,000 | 19% |
| 6,000 - 50,000 | 21% |
| Over 50,000 | 23% |
Under Articles 33 to 39 of Law 35/2006, capital gains and losses generally reflect changes in asset value revealed on a disposal, with special rules for valuation, exemptions and reinvestment. The applicable tax base can also include dividends and interest; not every receipt is taxed as a capital gain.
Spain non-resident capital gains tax
The original 2018 reference stated a 19% non-resident capital-gains rate. For many non-resident disposals of Spanish assets, 19% is the relevant capital-gains rate, but a blanket rate for all non-resident income would be misleading. Other income types can attract different rates, exemptions or treaty treatment. For real estate sold by a non-resident, the purchaser generally withholds 3% of the consideration as a payment on account, with final liability determined under the non-resident tax rules.
See the Spanish Tax Agency's non-resident tax portal and the consolidated Non-Resident Income Tax Law.
Current personal income tax framework (2025 reference)
For general taxable income, the following is the state component only of the 2025 IRPF schedule published by the Spanish Tax Agency. An additional regional component applies according to the taxpayer's autonomous community; do not add a fixed nationwide regional percentage.
| 2025 state general taxable base (EUR) | State marginal rate |
|---|---|
| Up to 12,450 | 9.5% |
| 12,450 - 20,200 | 12% |
| 20,200 - 35,200 | 15% |
| 35,200 - 60,000 | 18.5% |
| 60,000 - 300,000 | 22.5% |
| Above 300,000 | 24.5% |
These figures are the 2025 official reference schedule, not a representation that every 2026 regional rate is identical. For current filing details, consult the official IRPF portal.
Savings and capital gains rates (2025 reference)
For the 2025 tax year, the combined state and regional savings-income marginal bands shown in the Spanish Tax Agency guidance are:
| 2025 savings tax base (EUR) | Combined marginal rate |
|---|---|
| Up to 6,000 | 19% |
| 6,000 - 50,000 | 21% |
| 50,000 - 200,000 | 23% |
| 200,000 - 300,000 | 27% |
| Above 300,000 | 30% |
Articles 66 and 76 of Law 35/2006 govern the state and autonomous components of the savings-income tax scale. A tax on the entire gain at the highest band would be incorrect; these are marginal brackets.
Spain corporate income tax: 2018 and 2026
Spanish corporate income tax (Impuesto sobre Sociedades) is primarily governed by Law 27/2014. Article 29 establishes rates and Article 101 defines eligibility criteria for the small-enterprise regime. The following comparison reflects the official 2026 transitional schedule for tax periods beginning in 2026.
| Company category | 2018 reference | 2026 tax periods |
|---|---|---|
| General corporate rate | 25% | 25% |
| Qualifying newly formed trading company | 15% for qualifying initial profitable periods | 15% for qualifying initial profitable periods |
| Microenterprise (prior-year net turnover under EUR 1 million) | Generally 25% (subject to rules then applicable) | 19% on first EUR 50,000 taxable base; 21% on remainder |
| Qualifying small enterprise under Article 101 LIS | Generally 25% (subject to rules then applicable) | 23% |
Newly created companies generally qualify for the 15% rate in the first tax period with a positive taxable base and the following period, subject to statutory exclusions. Special regimes, including qualifying start-ups and cooperatives, can differ. The microenterprise and small-enterprise rates are subject to qualification requirements and exceptions.
Corporate expenses that may not be deductible
Under Article 15 of Law 27/2014, certain items are not deductible when computing corporate taxable profits. Common examples include:
- Corporate income tax itself.
- Criminal and administrative fines and penalties.
- Gifts and donations, subject to statutory exceptions and separate incentive regimes.
- Expenses contrary to the legal system and other specifically prohibited expenses.
Capital improvements are generally capitalised rather than immediately deducted, while depreciation is governed by Article 12 and related rules. Whether depreciation is deductible depends on the asset, method, statutory limits and supporting documentation.
Types of companies in Spain: SA and SL
Sociedad Anónima (SA) - public limited company
Under the Spanish Companies Act (Royal Legislative Decree 1/2010), the minimum share capital for an SA is generally EUR 60,000. At incorporation, at least 25% of the nominal value of subscribed shares must generally be paid up, subject to the rules governing non-cash contributions.
Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada (SL) - private limited company
The former general minimum capital of EUR 3,000 is outdated. Following Law 18/2022, an SL may generally be incorporated with EUR 1 of share capital, with additional statutory reserve and liability safeguards while capital remains below EUR 3,000.
Official legislation and tax guidance
- Law 35/2006 - Personal Income Tax (IRPF)
- Royal Legislative Decree 5/2004 - Non-Resident Income Tax
- Law 27/2014 - Corporate Income Tax
- Royal Legislative Decree 1/2010 - Companies Act
- Tax Agency - Corporate rates for 2024, 2025 and 2026
- Tax Agency - 2025 savings income rates
Information updated October 2026. This is general tax information, not personalised tax or legal advice. Consult the official rules for the relevant tax year, autonomous community and treaty position.