Taxes in Spain as a Swiss Non-Resident: The Complete Guide

If you are a Swiss national who owns property in Spain or earns income from Spanish sources — even without living in Spain — you have Spanish tax obligations. The Impuesto sobre la Renta de No Residentes (IRNR) is Spain’s Non-Resident Income Tax, and it applies to Swiss nationals who do not have tax residency in Spain.

Who Is Subject to the IRNR?

You are subject to Spanish non-resident tax if you: own real estate in Spain that you rent out, receive any other income from Spanish sources (dividends, interest, capital gains), or own a property in Spain that you use personally (imputed income).

Imputed Income on Vacant Properties

Even if your Spanish property generates no rental income — for example, because it is your holiday home — Spain imposes a notional income tax on it. This imputed income (renta imputada) is calculated as 1.1% or 2% of the property’s cadastral value (valor catastral), depending on whether the cadastral value has been updated in the last 10 years. This amount is then taxed at the IRNR rate of 24% for Swiss residents (as Switzerland is outside the EU/EEA).

Rental Income

If you rent your Spanish property to tenants, the full rental income is subject to IRNR at 24%. Unlike EU/EEA residents who can deduct rental expenses, Swiss residents as non-EU nationals cannot deduct expenses against their rental income under standard rules. Proper structuring of your rental arrangements is therefore essential.

Annual Tax Filing Deadlines

Non-resident property owners must file quarterly or annual IRNR declarations depending on the type of income. The declaration for imputed income for the previous year must be filed by 31 December. Rental income must be declared quarterly within the first 20 days of January, April, July, and October.

Wealth Tax (Impuesto sobre el Patrimonio)

Switzerland and Spain do not have a bilateral agreement exempting Swiss nationals from Spanish wealth tax. If the net value of your Spanish assets exceeds €700,000 (or €500,000 in some regions), you may also be subject to Spanish wealth tax on your Spanish assets.

Double Taxation Agreement Spain-Switzerland

Spain and Switzerland have a double taxation agreement (DTA) which prevents your Spanish-source income from being taxed twice. Income taxed in Spain under the IRNR is generally credited against your Swiss tax liability. Our law firm assists Swiss nationals in properly filing their Spanish tax declarations and optimising their tax position. Contact us for advice.