Telling It Like It Is For Post-Brexit Brits In Spain

Expert advice is laying out the post-Brexit situation for British expats living and working in Spain.

Of all the concerns felt by British business-owners and expat employees in Spain, taxation post-Brexit is a major issue. On the positive side, the UK’s geo-political position on the continent itself is very unlikely to change, meaning businesses including the tourism sector will continue as usual after the end of this month. The one difference is that the UK is about to become a ‘third country’ as regards customs, imports and permits. The Brexit effect is already being felt, with supplies of services and materials changing ahead of new customs procedures, customs duties and immigration requirements.

It’s now an accepted fact that British expats’ statuses in EU member states will remain largely the same until the end of the current year, with a swift dialogue with Spain during this transition period as regards Brexpats’ final rights the ideal solution for UK expat concerns. The focus of negotiations is expected to be on reciprocal rights, meaning that those granted by the UK for EU expats will be mirrored by the same rights for UK expats in Spain. However, other issues such as banking, driving, mobile roaming and consumer rights may differ as EU regulations will no longer apply.

As regards taxation, a double tax treaty is already in place but will not apply to wealth and inheritance taxes. One of the most important aspects of any Spain/UK dual negotiations will concern the 500,000 British property owners in Spain and the 200,000 Spanish nationals living in Britain. The issue is movement between the two locations and the establishment of residency in both, without affecting rights. UK expats in Spain may well have to get used to being referred to a immigrants, a term with negative commutations for many, but the most important issue is to ensure that Brexpats and their counterparts in the UK aren’t the victims of discrimination, even although some agreed benefits may not apply equally to both groups.