Company formation

NIE application

Accounting

Payroll

VAT registration

Virtual office

Legal

FAQs:
How long will it take?
What are the steps to form a company?
What will I receive?
How do I get a NIE number?
Should I form a new company or buy a ready-made company?
What are the tax and accounting obligations for a company in Spain?
Can I avoid the trip to Spain?
Will the company have a VAT number?
Will I receive a corporate bank account?
Do I need an address in Spain for the company?
What is the minimum capital required for the company?

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Corporate taxes

 

 

How long will it take?

Once you have your NIE, the following chart shows the time scale for the company to be fully established. Note that as soon as you sign at the notary, the company is a legal entity, and you may begin to invoice with the company.

 

What are the steps to form a company?

• Order the company name
• Preparation of your incorporation documents
• You come to Barcelona to sign at the notary
• Company gets registered at the Mercantile Registry

 

What will I receive?

When you establish a company with us, you will receive the following:

• Company name certificate.
• Company deed, including shares, bylaws, and title of ownership.
• Company tax ID (CIF).
• Registration at the Mercantile Registry and publication in the Registry's Official Bulletin.
• Form 600 (stamp duty) filed and paid.
• Form 036 (tax ID registration) filed.

We have a client area where these documents will be available. As soon as we receive the name certificate, we will send you the login information. If you use our accounting and payroll services, all related documents for these services will also appear in your client area.

 

Should I form a new company or buy a ready-made company?

With a ready-made company ("shelf company"), you save the step of registering a new name (4-6 days). The problem is that in order to register the change of company director, the mercantile registry can take longer than it takes to register a new company. The law stipulates that a new SL must be registered in 15 business days, but there is no time limit specified for changes to an existing company. The bank account won't be in your name until the mercantile registry delivers the stamped company title, so if the use of a bank account is urgent, a ready-made company is not the best option.

 

What are the tax and accounting obligations for a company in Spain?

You are required to file tax forms every quarter, as well as yearly tax forms. You are also required to fill out four accounting books, and present them yearly to the Mercantile Registry. These requirements hold true even if your company has no financial movement. See our accounting page for more information.

 

Can I avoid the trip to Spain?

Yes, you can give us a power of attorney. Please contact us about the best way to get a power of attorney.

 

Will the company have a VAT number?

Yes, the company will have a Spanish tax ID (CIF), which is the VAT number. You will have the tax ID the day you sign at the notary. With the tax ID, your Spanish company can do business anywhere in the EU.

If the company will be exchanging frequent invoices with companies in the EU but outside Spain, then you may want to be listed in the EU VAT registry (censo VIES) so you won't have to bill and be billed for IVA in your EU transactions. Please ask us for more details about this service.

 

Will I receive a corporate bank account?

Yes, you will receive a corporate bank account in the company's name. The online banking capabilities are extensive. As of 2010, you can choose among 18 languages for your online banking.

 

Do I need an address in Spain for the company?

Companies doing business in Spain are required to have a corporate address (domicilio) in Spain. Your SL will be registered at the provincial Mercantile Registry corresponding to this corporate address. It is the public address that shows up if anyone does a search on your company, such as a credit search or a search for judicial reasons. It is also where your year-end accounting books get sent to. If you choose to use our accounting service, then our address may be used for your corporate address.

 

What is the minimum capital required for the company?

The minimum capital required is 3006€. This money is put directly into the new bank account for the company. You may withdraw this money from the account as soon as the bank account is fully set up.