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Autónomo Registration

Register as self-employed and stay on top of every quarterly obligation.

About this guide

Autónomo Registration

Becoming autónomo means dual registration: with the Agencia Tributaria via Modelo 036/037 (Census of Entrepreneurs) and with the Régimen Especial de Trabajadores Autónomos (RETA) at Seguridad Social. Since 2023, RETA contributions follow a 15-bracket scale based on real net income (Real Decreto-ley 13/2022). New autónomos benefit from the tarifa plana of €87/month for the first 12 months, extendable by another year if income stays below the SMI. You then file quarterly IRPF (Modelo 130) and IVA (Modelo 303), plus annual summaries.

Autónomo is Spain's self-employed status. You'll juggle Hacienda, Seguridad Social and quarterly filings — but the tarifa plana keeps the first year affordable.

Who this is for
Freelancers invoicing Spanish or foreign clients
Remote workers moving from employment to self-employment
Small shop, studio or consultancy owners
Digital nomads who want to bill clients legally from Spain
Anyone earning side income above the recurring threshold
Key requirements
Get your NIE before anything else
Register with Hacienda via Modelo 036/037
Register with RETA at Seguridad Social within 60 days
Quarterly IRPF (Modelo 130) and IVA (Modelo 303)
Annual summaries: 390, 190, 100
Typical process
1Choose your IAE epígrafe (activity code)
2Modelo 036 → census registration
3RETA registration — choose your contribution base
4First year: tarifa plana €87/month
5Start issuing invoices with IVA and IRPF retention
Common pitfalls
Missing a quarterly filing triggers a 1–20% surcharge
Mixing personal and professional expenses
Forgetting Modelo 349 for EU clients
Not deregistering when you stop
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Frequently asked

Can I be autónomo on a DNV?

Yes — DNV allows freelance activity for foreign clients (up to 20% Spanish).

How much will I really pay?

Tarifa plana €87 year 1, then your real RETA base + IRPF + IVA balance.

Need a gestor?

Strongly recommended for first year — costs €40–80/month and prevents fines.

Official sources

All information on this page is drawn from official Spanish government publications. Click to verify.

Seguridad Social — Alta en RETA (autónomos)

Tesorería General de la Seguridad Social

Real Decreto-ley 13/2022 — nuevo sistema de cotización

BOE — Boletín Oficial del Estado

AEAT — Modelo 036/037 (Censo de Empresarios)

AEAT — Agencia Tributaria

AEAT — Modelo 130 (IRPF) y Modelo 303 (IVA)

AEAT — Agencia Tributaria

Last reviewed against the current versions of BOE / AEAT / Seguridad Social publications. This is general information — not legal or tax advice.