I have used YourBestAddress for several years now. They are in South Dakota. They will hold your mail till you tell them to ship it; or you can upgrade (not expensive) to a scan / shred service. www.yourbestaddress.com. Their customer service is outstanding. If you need to retain US citizenship in a non-income-tax US state, they can help with that for SD. Usually, my mailbox is a sufficient address for businesses i deal with , but some banks don't like it--they flag it as a mailbox--so when i opened a new credit card, YourBestAddress offered the use of a residential address for me to use for that single purpose.

Great question! I'm not familiar with any sites or organizations in Spain that highlight accessible housing or communities. I would say that major cities would be the most accessible - Madrid and Barcelona. Smaller towns may be accessible in some areas but overall I find much of Spain was not built with accessibility in mind (except for the visually impaired). Most new buildings will have elevators but the units themselves may not be wheelchair accessible. Buses are wheelchair friendly but not all sidewalks are. I hope this helps!

Hi Don, Thanks for your question!

We've checked in with Margaret Summerfield, Real Estate Trend Alert, to get an answer to your question. Here is her response,

The cost would depend on a number of factors – where the property is located, if the seller is tax resident in Spain, etc. The typical costs are:

1, real estate agent fees (vary from 3% to 10%)
2, capital gains tax – which can be up to 24% of the gain for a non-resident, non EU/EEA seller. Deductions are allowed, and the tax can be lower if the seller is tax resident/selling a primary residence/using the proceeds to buy a primary residence
3, plusvalia (like a municipal land tax) – this is based on the rise in value of the land the property sits on from the time of purchase to the time of sale - and is on a sliding scale based on how long the seller has owned the property. If say you have held it for up to 5 years, it’s around 3.7%
4, legal costs (around 1%)
5, You also need to pay for certificates (including an energy performance certificate), cancelling a mortgage if there is one, etc.

You may want to reach out to Ronan McMahon's team of experts at Pangea as they have done a lot of scouting in Spain (albeit much of it on the coast... still, they may have a broker to recommend who does long-term rentals in the San Sebastian/Donostia area and if so, that'll be info worth having):

Email: info@pangearesearchgroup.com
Website: https://pangearesearchgroup.com

Best,

IL Overseas Editor Jess Ramesch

Hello,
Moving to Spain can have significant tax implications, even if you currently pay no taxes in the U.S. on your Social Security and Roth IRA income. Spain's tax system treats different types of income differently, and as a resident, you would be subject to Spanish tax laws. Here’s a breakdown of what you might expect:

Tax Residency

Tax Residency in Spain: If you spend more than 183 days in Spain in a calendar year, or if your main economic interests or business activities are based there, you would be considered a tax resident.

Types of Income

Social Security Benefits:

U.S. Social Security: According to the U.S.-Spain tax treaty, U.S. Social Security benefits are taxable only in the country of residence. Therefore, if you are a tax resident of Spain, your U.S. Social Security benefits would be taxable in Spain. Tax Rates: Spain taxes pensions and annuities (including Social Security) at progressive rates ranging from 19% to 47%.

Roth IRA Distributions:

Roth IRA: Roth IRA distributions are generally not taxable in the U.S. if the account has been open for at least five years and the distribution is made after the account holder reaches age 59½. Spanish Tax Treatment: Spain does not have specific provisions for Roth IRAs. However, Roth IRA distributions may be considered as taxable income under Spanish tax law. It's advisable to consult a Spanish tax advisor for specifics, but generally, investment income could be taxed at rates ranging from 19% to 26%.

Other Considerations

Wealth Tax: Some regions of Spain imposes a wealth tax on individuals whose net worth exceeds certain thresholds. The rate varies by region and ranges from 0.2% to 3.5%. Double Taxation Relief: The U.S.-Spain tax treaty helps prevent double taxation. You may be able to claim a foreign tax credit in the U.S. for taxes paid to Spain on your income. Compliance: Ensure compliance with both U.S. and Spanish tax authorities by filing the necessary forms and declarations, including the FBAR (Foreign Bank Account Report) if applicable.

Everyone’s situation is different, so I recommend you fill out this form below and my tax team of professionals who specializes in international tax law to get precise advice tailored to your specific situation and to help you navigate both U.S. and Spanish tax obligations efficiently. https://share.hsforms.com/19A3yzsr9RBKhwZaGjd5pWg2oey6