Accounting obligations of the self-employed in Spain
The self-employed are not obliged to keep business accounts, with some exceptions, but they do have to comply with tax obligations depending on their personal income tax regime: direct (normal or simplified) or objective (modules).
a) Self-employed in direct estimation
- Normal direct estimation (income > 600,000 €/year):
- Journal
- Inventory Book and Annual Accounts
- Sales and income book
- Book of purchases and expenses
- Investment goods book
- Provisions and supplies ledger (if applicable)
- Simplified direct estimation (income ≤ 600.000 €/year):
- Sales and income book
- Book of purchases and expenses
- Investment goods book
- Book of provisions and supplies (for professionals)
b) Self-employed in objective estimation (modules)
In this regime it is not compulsory to keep accounting books, but invoices issued and received must be kept, and if applicable, a book of investment goods must be kept if depreciations are made.
Legalisation and penalties
Tax books are not legalised at the Mercantile Register. However, they must be kept and be available for possible requests from the Tax Agency. Failure to keep or maintain them may result in penalties for tax infringements.
Applicable regulations
- Personal Income Tax Law 35/2006
- Personal Income Tax Regulations (RD 439/2007)
- Order HAC/773/2019, which regulates the IRPF record books.
- Code of Commerce (only in normal direct estimation)
| Ley 35 2006 IRPF,Renta No Residentes y Patrimonio | 1081 KB | ||
| Orden HAC 773 2019 de 28 Junio, regula llevanza libros registros IRPF | 135 KB | ||
| RealDecreto 349 2007, Reglamento IRPF y Fondos Pensiones | 695 KB |
