Do you own a holiday home in Spain but don’t rent it out? You may still owe tax to the Spanish tax authorities every year. This little-known obligation is called the imputed rental income tax (renta imputada in Spanish), and it catches many Nordic and international property owners off guard.
What Is Imputed Rental Income?
Imputed rental income is a notional, deemed income that the Spanish tax authorities attribute to non-resident owners of property in Spain for the days when the property is available for their own use rather than rented out. The reasoning is that by owning a property you enjoy an economic benefit, and that benefit is taxable.
It doesn’t matter whether you live in Sweden, Norway, Denmark or any other country. If you own a property in Spain that is not your permanent residence, you are required to declare and pay this tax each year under the IRNR system (Non-Resident Income Tax).
How Is the Tax Calculated?
The calculation is based on the property’s catastral value – an official value set by the local authority, which appears on your annual IBI (council tax) bill. The applicable percentage is:
- 2% of the catastral value as the general rule.
- 1.1% where the conditions for the relevant tax year are met. For 2025, this generally covers qualifying collective cadastral valuations effective from 1 January 2012; other years may have different reference periods. Check the valuation and the tax year before applying 1.1%.
This deemed income is generally taxed at 19% for taxpayers who are tax resident in another EU member state, Iceland, Norway or Liechtenstein, and 24% for other non-resident taxpayers. The applicable rate depends on tax residence, not nationality.
Example – catastral value of €80,000
Assume your property has a catastral value of €80,000 and the 1.1% rate is applicable to the relevant tax year:
- Imputed income: €80,000 × 1.1% = €880
- Tax (19% for qualifying EU/EEA tax residents): €880 × 19% = €167.20 per year
It’s not a huge amount in itself – but failure to declare leads to late interest and penalties that compound year after year and can become very significant.
Which Form and When?
Imputed rental income is declared using Modelo 210. For income year 2025, the return can be filed between 1 January and 31 December 2026. For income year 2026, the new filing period is 1 April to 31 December 2027 (direct debit has an earlier deadline).
Actual rental income follows separate rules. For 2026 rents declared together for the year, and for separately declared rents arising in the final quarter of 2026, the filing period with tax to pay is generally 1–20 April 2027. Separately declared rents arising in April–September 2026 retained the earlier quarterly deadlines. See the Spanish Tax Agency’s guidance on the 2026 transitional rules.
What Happens If You Don’t Declare?
The Spanish Tax Agency (Agencia Tributaria) cross-references data from the property registry and the catastro with filed declarations. The consequences of non-compliance can include:
- Tax assessments with late-payment interest on the unpaid amount
- Penalties of 50–150% of the unpaid tax in more serious cases
- Complications and additional checks at the point of any future sale
Calculate Your Tax for Free
Use our free online calculator to get an instant estimate of what you owe:
👉 Imputed Rental Income Tax Calculator
Contact Us
At Colás Abogados we assist non-resident property owners with their Spanish tax obligations. We prepare and file your Modelo 210, ensure it is correct and submitted on time, and can represent you before the Agencia Tributaria if required.