How Much Tax Will I Pay as an Autónomo in Spain?

If you are planning to work as an autónomo in Spain, the real question is usually simple: how much money will you actually keep?

You may invoice €2,000, €4,000 or €8,000 per month, but your take-home income depends on expenses, Social Security contributions and income tax.

Use the calculator below for a simplified estimate.

How the Calculator Works

The calculator uses a simplified version of the logic many autónomos need to understand.

One important detail is that RETA is treated as deductible for the purpose of this estimate.

That means IRPF is estimated after deducting both business expenses and Social Security contributions.

What Taxes Do Autónomos Pay?

1. Social Security Contributions (RETA)

RETA is usually the first major fixed cost new autónomos notice.

New autónomos may qualify for a reduced fee, often called tarifa plana or cuota reducida.

Later, or if the reduced fee does not apply, the standard contribution system is normally used.

2. Income Tax (IRPF)

IRPF is Spain's personal income tax.

It is progressive, which means higher taxable profit usually leads to a higher tax burden.

Two freelancers with the same revenue may pay different amounts if their deductible expenses are different.

3. VAT (IVA)

VAT is one of the most misunderstood parts of autónomo taxes.

In many cases, VAT is collected from clients and later reported to Hacienda.

It is usually not personal income and is not included in the take-home estimate above.

For a detailed explanation, see our guide on Spanish VAT rates.

Why Expenses Matter

Revenue is not the same as profit.

A freelancer earning €4,000 per month with almost no expenses is not in the same position as a freelancer earning €4,000 with significant business costs.

This is why the calculator asks for deductible business expenses.

Common Deductible Expenses

Depending on your activity and documentation, deductible expenses may include:

• Professional software
• Accounting services
• Internet used for work
• Coworking space
• Professional insurance
• Business travel
• Work equipment such as a laptop

Not every payment is automatically deductible. The expense should normally be connected to your economic activity and properly documented.

Reduced Fee vs Standard System

Many new autónomos may start with a reduced Social Security fee.

This can make the first stage of self-employment feel very different from the standard system.

That is why the calculator allows you to compare both scenarios.

It is not trying to decide automatically whether you qualify for the reduced fee. It simply shows how the estimate changes if the reduced fee applies.

Some remote workers move to Spain under the Digital Nomad Visa and later switch to an autónomo structure. Before changing your employment or Social Security arrangement, it is important to understand how Certificates of Coverage, A1 Certificates, autónomo registration and renewal requirements interact. For common mistakes and renewal issues, see our guide on the biggest Digital Nomad Visa mistakes in 2026.

Quick Examples

Example 1: €2,000 Monthly Revenue

If you invoice €2,000 per month and have €200 of deductible expenses, your take-home income will depend heavily on your Social Security contribution and estimated IRPF.

Example 2: €4,000 Monthly Revenue

At this level, deductible expenses become more important because the taxable profit may be significantly affected by business costs.

Example 3: €8,000 Monthly Revenue

Higher monthly revenue usually means a higher IRPF estimate, especially if expenses are low.

Monthly vs Quarterly Obligations

New freelancers often assume that all taxes are paid monthly.

In practice, different obligations have different timelines.

For quarterly income tax, see our guide on how to file Modelo 130 yourself in Spain.

For VAT reporting, see our guide on how to file Modelo 303 yourself in Spain.

What If Your Client Is Outside Spain?

Many autónomos work with US, UK or EU clients.

Foreign clients may change the VAT treatment, but they do not make IRPF or Social Security disappear.

For more detail, read our guide on how to invoice a client outside Spain as an autónomo.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Guides

• How to Register as an Autónomo in Spain
• Do Autónomos Have Consumer Rights in Spain?
• How to File Modelo 130 Yourself in Spain
• How to File Modelo 303 Yourself in Spain
• How to Switch from a Non-Lucrative Visa to Autónomo in Spain (Real Case Study)
• Do I Need to File Modelo 303 If My VAT Is 0%?
• Foreign Income in Spain: Tax Rules for Spanish Tax Residents
• Reporting Foreign Assets in Spain: Bank Accounts, Investments and Modelo 720
• How to Invoice a Client Outside Spain as an Autónomo
• Can You Invoice Without Being Autónomo in Spain?

Final Thoughts

The most important number is not your revenue.

It is how much remains after deductible expenses, Social Security contributions and income tax.

A simple estimate can help you decide how much to charge, how much to save for taxes and whether self-employment in Spain makes sense for your situation.