Spending half the year in Spain/Portugal (1 Viewer)

Toe toe

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I'm a newbie
We are going to go to Spain / Portugal from November to March each year and was wondering if you would still have to pay the full council tax for the year. Also what do you guys do about electric meter readings whilst away
Thanks in advance
 
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Jul 13, 2008
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Get someone to live in your house, that way they pay it and more!
 

Zilevets

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They have scrapped the 6 months unoccupied allowance now so you will have to pay full council tax, the meter reading others will probably know

Liz

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Jul 13, 2008
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Also you should inform your house insurance and let then know it's going to be empty for that period.
 
Sep 26, 2013
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We are away from October until March and we pay full council tax, submit a meter reading of 200 units a month which is about £30 a month which covers the cost of running the oil radiators that we leave on.
Have house insurance with Camping Club which allows 180 days for the house to be unoccupied so no need to tell them.
 

kcy

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We are going to go to Spain / Portugal from November to March each year and was wondering if you would still have to pay the full council tax for the year. Also what do you guys do about electric meter readings whilst away
Thanks in advance
We have done Dec to March, 3 consecutive years, this Dec will be our 4th time. a neighbor has a key to just the back porch to stop the mail stacking up, don't bother about the meters, they will be estimated and DD take care of our bills. Have never thought about the council tax,
 

Lenny HB

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Just returned from our first winter trip only 2 months, the boss was a bit apprehensive about being away so long, now we are looking at changing our house insurance so we can have longer periods away.
Our trip was only two months put a meter reading in online before we went, the actual reading I reduced by a chunk as we would be away, bills are paid by monthly DD so no worries.
If you are worried about it, you can always do what @Mikeco does an put an estimated reading in online while you are away.
 
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Make sure u get the right insurance policy and read the small print about having to heat the property to a certain level and how frequently u have to have someone visit the house to make sure its OK.

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John & Joan

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There are two issues Residency and Fiscal Residency.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/residency-requirements-in-spain

Residency requirements
From 28 March 2007, Royal Decree 240/07 requires that all EU citizens planning to reside in Spain for more than 3 months should register in person at the Oficina de Extranjeros in their province of residence or at designated Police stations. You will be issued an A4 printed Residence Certificate stating your name, address, nationality, NIE number (Número de Identificación Extranjeros) and date of registration.

More details can be found on the website for the Spanish Ministry of the Interior (information is in Spanish).

Changes to the residency regulations
On 10 July 2012 the Spanish government introduced details of the new residency requirements for all EU citizens, including British nationals.

Under the new rules, EU citizens applying for residency in Spain may be required to produce evidence of sufficient financial means to support themselves (and dependants). Applicants may also be asked for proof of private or public healthcare insurance. More details about the application process and documentation you need are available on the website of the Spanish Ministry for Work and Social Security.

You don’t have to own your house to register, just have an address where you habitually live, this could be a caravan site.

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http://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/work/taxes/income-taxes-abroad/index_en.htm

Each country has its own definition of tax residence; yet:
  • You will usually be considered tax-resident in the country where you spend more than 6 months a year
  • If you spend less than 6 months a year in another EU country, you will normally remain tax-resident in your home country
You will become resident for tax purposes in Spain if:

a) you spend more than 183 days in one calendar year. You become liable whether or not you take out a formal residence permit. These days do not have to be consecutive. Temporary absences from Spain are ignored for the purpose of the 183-day rule unless it can be proved that the individual is habitually resident in another country for more than 183 days in a calendar year,
 
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John & Joan

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Get someone to live in your house, that way they pay it and more!
You will then need Full Timing insurance not just 365 days cover. If you let your house in ceases to be your residence. You will then need a contact address for DVLA, Insurance and other purposes. Most insurances require a UK residence and that you are on the electoral roll at that address. The only company to do true full time insurance is AVIVA only available though Comfort Insurance, ABI. and MotorhomeFacts.
 
2

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There are two issues Residency and Fiscal Residency.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/residency-requirements-in-spain

Residency requirements
From 28 March 2007, Royal Decree 240/07 requires that all EU citizens planning to reside in Spain for more than 3 months should register in person at the Oficina de Extranjeros in their province of residence or at designated Police stations. You will be issued an A4 printed Residence Certificate stating your name, address, nationality, NIE number (Número de Identificación Extranjeros) and date of registration.

More details can be found on the website for the Spanish Ministry of the Interior (information is in Spanish).

Changes to the residency regulations
On 10 July 2012 the Spanish government introduced details of the new residency requirements for all EU citizens, including British nationals.

Under the new rules, EU citizens applying for residency in Spain may be required to produce evidence of sufficient financial means to support themselves (and dependants). Applicants may also be asked for proof of private or public healthcare insurance. More details about the application process and documentation you need are available on the website of the Spanish Ministry for Work and Social Security.

You don’t have to own your house to register, just have an address where you habitually live, this could be a caravan site.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/work/taxes/income-taxes-abroad/index_en.htm

Each country has its own definition of tax residence; yet:
  • You will usually be considered tax-resident in the country where you spend more than 6 months a year
  • If you spend less than 6 months a year in another EU country, you will normally remain tax-resident in your home country
You will become resident for tax purposes in Spain if:

a) you spend more than 183 days in one calendar year. You become liable whether or not you take out a formal residence permit. These days do not have to be consecutive. Temporary absences from Spain are ignored for the purpose of the 183-day rule unless it can be proved that the individual is habitually resident in another country for more than 183 days in a calendar year,

Does anybody actually take notice of these regulations though? We don't, but we are never in one country for an unbroken 6 months.

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John & Joan

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We have been spending the winter touring in Spain (France outward and back) for 6 years now. Things are getting tighter for wild parking. We have noticed a fourfold increase in vans over that period. Caravan sites are often full booked however more and more Camperstops and Aires are appearing.
 

John & Joan

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Does anybody actually take notice of these regulations though? We don't, but we are never in one country for an unbroken 6 months.
If you are not on a caravan site for extended periods, then you have no address to be registered at. We keep moving and don't stay in any one Spanish region for an extended time certainly not 3 months. Spain is tightening up and checking.

We have been asked to produce an NIE or Passport at a couple of Camperstops this winter.
 

Snowbird

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Having spent the last 16 winters in warmer climes I have seen vast changes in that time. Firstly, no one knew when you came and went as it was just a cheery wave of your UK passport. Now you are clocked out and in at ferry ports, so if ever there is an insurance claim the first thing they ask for is sight of ferry tickets. there used to be no problems wilding in Spain almost on any beach, but now its almost impossible due to the vast numbers of motorhomes now winter sun seeking. You could just roll up on just about any site in Spain and get a good pitch, now they are booked months in advance and many are now taken all year round just to secure a good pitch. There used to be old UK registered vehicles running around that had quite obviously not been back to the UK for years, the Spanish recently clamped down on that and it is common to be pulled if your vehicle has been spotted for any length of time in one place, with paper checks. I have noticed many that used to stay with RVs for over 6 months are now being targeted for import duty as the Spanish say the vehicle is now an import after 6 months. Many are now having to get a NIE number if they stay long term. There are just too many of us nowadays and am sorry to say, the golden age of snowbirding if not gone, is going to become more and more difficult as more people take up the lifestyle.

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Jul 13, 2008
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If you are in a Motorhome in Spain are you "residing" there? Don't know how they could possibly know how long you've been in Spain?
 
Nov 24, 2008
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If you are in a Motorhome in Spain are you "residing" there? Don't know how they could possibly know how long you've been in Spain?

Do they not have cameras as you enter or leave a different country. We are in Portugal but only a few km from the border. The border is no longer manned, though there are often police cars parked one side or the other and I have seen cars stopped. as you go through there is the gantry overhead and they may not be working but there are defiantly cameras there.

I agree that if you come through the border via a back road there is no way they can track you.

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Snowbird

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If you are in a Motorhome in Spain are you "residing" there? Don't know how they could possibly know how long you've been in Spain?

If you are on site, you are registered. Have been on wilding beaches in the past when the local plod has been round and taken registration numbers. They could of course have been ex train spotters, but strangely they will move on those that they think have been there too long. Since the escalation of terrorism in mainland Europe local plod are far more aware of whats going on than you think.
 
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The Uk taxman and Dhss can track you by Credit/Debit cards, passports, bank withdrawel etc.Mobile Phones.
in the uk my friend was chased by the taxman and got a investagation, they wanted to know what he was living on, as he paid cash for most things. Tracked on how much he spent by tesco points.
More money going out than coming in.
 
Jul 13, 2008
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The Uk taxman and Dhss can track you by Credit/Debit cards, passports, bank withdrawel etc.Mobile Phones.
in the uk my friend was chased by the taxman and got a investagation, they wanted to know what he was living on, as he paid cash for most things. Tracked on how much he spent by tesco points.
More money going out than coming in.
Yes I agree they can track you if they think you're fiddling, but they're not going to do it to every single motorhome leaving the Country.

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Aug 18, 2014
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[

If you are in a Motorhome in Spain are you "residing" there? Don't know how they could possibly know how long you've been in Spain?

They don't have to prove anything. You have to prove that you haven't been here over 90 days.

If they decide that they have seen your fo an extended period & consider that you should be a resident ,if they issue 'notice to replate' your vehicle within a specified time ,you have a serious problem as it goes on a country wide Trafico data base & being spotted elsewhere after the period is up will mean the vehicle is seized & impounded.
Legally if you are leaving the UK for over 90 days you are meant to notify & sign off of healthcare.The fact that you may have a house in the Uk,pay council tax , income tax, etc; counts for nothing .
 
Jul 13, 2008
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They don't have to prove anything. You have to prove that you haven't been here over 90 days.

If they decide that they have seen your fo an extended period & consider that you should be a resident ,if they issue 'notice to replate' your vehicle within a specified time ,you have a serious problem as it goes on a country wide Trafico data base & being spotted elsewhere after the period is up will mean the vehicle is seized & impounded.
Legally if you are leaving the UK for over 90 days you are meant to notify & sign off of healthcare.The fact that you may have a house in the Uk,pay council tax , income tax, etc; counts for nothing .
You have any links to this?
 
Aug 18, 2014
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You have any links to this?
There aren't any links it is just how they work.Once they issue the paperwork they have no further interest as it is up to you to prove that you haven't been here over 90 days/aren't a resident /whatever. If I was non -resident I'd be looking to get a 'certificate of non -residency' which is what many holiday home owners do next door in Almeria to negate the aggro many get from the Guardia there by being looked on as " resident" as they have nie numbers which you are required to get even to buy a holiday home. This is compounded by the local " Teniente" instructing all his blokes, illegally & incorrectly, that anyone with an NIE number is an official resident. :) & so the nonsense continues .

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Emmit

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I haven't gone into it (as it doesn't apply to us) But, whilst I understand that you can't weedle out of the Council Tax, could it not be that one of you ceases to be in occupation of that house, (by moving in, on paper, to another house) thereby reducing the number of occupants to one, (presumably) and therefore attracting a discount on your Council Tax liability. I understand that a single occupant of a residence receives a discount of 30% or thereabouts.
It's not as if the Council could accuse you of cheating the system. There's NO ONE living at the house, let alone more than one.
Just saying
 

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