US Tax Filing for Americans Living in Spain
Spain attracts thousands of American expats each year — drawn by culture, climate, and the growing digital nomad visa. Americans in Spain must continue filing US taxes while navigating Spain's complex tax system, including the Beckham Law (which taxes only Spanish-source income for qualifying newcomers) and the controversial Modelo 720 foreign asset declaration. We handle your US filing with full awareness of how Spanish residency rules and local taxes affect the optimal US strategy.
Get started with your filingWho this is for
- ✓ US citizens and green card holders residing in Spain on long-stay or digital nomad visas
- ✓ Americans in Spain who qualify for the Beckham Law (Régimen de Impatriados)
- ✓ Expats with Spanish bank accounts, property, or investment portfolios
- ✓ Remote workers employed by US companies but living in Spain
- ✓ Americans retiring to Spain or moving for a partner's employment
What this filing may involve
Every situation is different. The forms below commonly apply — your specific filing may vary.
- 1 Form 1040 — US Individual Income Tax Return
- 2 Form 2555 — Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (commonly used under Beckham Law where Spanish taxes are low)
- 3 Form 1116 — Foreign Tax Credit for Spanish income tax (IRPF) paid
- 4 FinCEN Form 114 (FBAR) — Spanish bank and investment accounts
- 5 Form 8938 — FATCA reporting for foreign financial assets
- 6 Form 8833 — US-Spain tax treaty position if applicable
- 7 Schedule C — for self-employed and freelance Americans (autónomo)
Documents usually needed
- 📄 Certificado de retenciones from Spanish employer or Modelo 190 summary
- 📄 Spanish bank statements for all accounts
- 📄 Certificado de Residencia Fiscal from AEAT (if applicable)
- 📄 Records of Beckham Law application approval if in that regime
- 📄 Prior year US tax return
- 📄 Social Security number or ITIN
- 📄 Rental or investment income records if applicable
How Nomadic.Tax works
AI-assisted preparation with licensed professional review — every time.
Tell us about your Spanish visa type, income sources, and whether you are under the Beckham Law
Upload Spanish income and tax documents to your Nomadic.Tax dashboard
Our AI calculates the optimal FEIE vs Foreign Tax Credit strategy given your Spanish tax situation
A CPA reviews, signs, and e-files your US return
When human review matters
- ⓘ Beckham Law often results in low Spanish taxes on foreign-source income, making FEIE attractive for earned income
- ⓘ The Modelo 720 is a Spanish (not US) obligation; our service focuses on the US return, but we flag potential interactions
- ⓘ The US-Spain tax treaty affects treatment of pensions, dividends, and certain business income
[INSERT: customer testimonial, e.g. "digital nomad and UX designer in Barcelona, Spain, saved money and stress using Nomadic.Tax"]
- digital nomad and UX designer, Barcelona, Spain
Relevant plans
Choose the package that best fits your situation, or view all plans.
- ✓ Everything in Standard
- ✓ Schedule C & SE for self-employment
- ✓ Multiple income sources and currencies
- ✓ Everything in Premier
- ✓ Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (Form 2555)
- ✓ Foreign Tax Credit (Form 1116)
- ✓ FBAR filing (FinCEN 114) included
- ✓ Up to 6 years of FBAR
- ✓ Prepared for streamlined compliance
Frequently asked questions about US Tax Filing for Americans Living in Spain
How does the Beckham Law affect my US tax filing?
The Beckham Law taxes only your Spanish-source income at a flat rate, so your foreign-source income may face little or no Spanish tax. This means the Foreign Tax Credit is smaller — making the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion more valuable for many Americans under the Beckham Law. Our CPAs model both options for your situation.
Do I need to worry about the Modelo 720?
The Modelo 720 is a Spanish reporting obligation for foreign assets — it's separate from and in addition to your US FBAR and FATCA obligations. Our service covers your US FBAR and Form 8938 filings, not the Modelo 720, which requires a Spanish tax advisor.
I moved from the US to Spain mid-year — do I file for the full year?
Yes. Your US Form 1040 covers the entire calendar year regardless of when you moved. For the months you were in Spain, you can apply FEIE or Foreign Tax Credit. For the months you were in the US, standard US filing rules apply.
I work remotely for a US company from Spain — do I owe Spanish tax?
Spain's tax authority may consider you a Spanish tax resident if you spend more than 183 days there, meaning Spanish IRPF applies to your worldwide income. This is a question for a Spanish advisor. On the US side, you'd use the Foreign Tax Credit to offset any Spanish taxes paid.