Country report Spain

Economic overview

Spain has been amidst a fair monetary recovery in the last years; in any case; the COVID-19 emergency drove the country into a remarkable decline in financial action in 2020, with GDP falling by 12.8% (IMF estimates), probably the biggest withdrawal in Europe. 

The service sector was hit hard, particularly the travel industry (which represents about 12% of Spain’s economy). 

SMEs, which add to more than 70% of business, have been battling to remain above water (the portion of obligation in danger of weak firms is assessed by the IMF to ascend by 7% – to about 37%). 

As indicated by the IMF’s October 2020 forecast, the recovery is relied upon to be lopsided across areas, with in general GDP projected to develop 7.2% in 2021 and 4.5% the next year (however OECD’s figures are more moderate, at 5% and 4%, individually). Generally yield toward the finish of 2022 ought to stay about 3% underneath its pre-pandemic level. 

In its latest January 2021 update of the World Economic Outlook, the IMF has modified its GDP development projections for Spain to 5.9% in 2021 and 4.7% in 2022 (addressing a distinction from October 2020 WEO projections of – 1.3% and +0.2%, separately).

Main sectors of industry

Agriculture contributes around 2.7% of Spanish GDP and utilizes 4% of the labor force (World Bank, 2020).

The country is home to about 1,000,000 horticultural and livestock businesses, covering 30 million hectares of land. Spain is the world’s biggest olive oil producer and the world’s third-biggest producer of wine.

The industrial sector represents 20.2% of GDP and of absolute business. Assembling is the main business as it accounts alone for around 11% of GDP (World Bank, 2019). 

New sectors, for example, rethinking of electronic parts creation, data innovation, and broadcast communications give high development potential.

The tertiary sector adds to 67.9% of GDP and utilizes 76% of the active population. The travel industry area is significant for the nation’s economy, being Spain’s fundamental kind of revenue (12.4% of GDP in 2019, INE), as the nation is the second-most mainstream traveler objective on the planet (83.7 million vacationers in 2019, for a seventh consecutive year of records). The financial sector is likewise significant and is made out of twelve financial gatherings which incorporate 52 private banks, 2 saving banks and 61 agreeable banks (Spanish Banking Association).

Taxation in Spain

Companies are considered resident in Spain when they have been incorporated as per Spanish enactment, when their enrolled workplaces are a situated in Spanish area or when their place of successful administration is in Spain. Direct tax imposed on worldwide income of the company who is resident in Spain.

Profit or loss for bookkeeping purposes, adjusted upwards or downwards as per tax standards. 

The standard tax rate is 25% (unique paces of up to 30% exist for credit foundations). 

Profits and capital additions: Taxed at the standard rate with the exception of where the exclusion to stay away from twofold tax assessment applies. To apply this exception, the shareholding in the resident entity should be in any event 5% of the total capital or have an acquisition value of over €20 million, and should be held for at any rate one year without interruption. As for foreign companies, the investee must have paid CIT or similar tax at a rate of at least 10% or be domiciled in a jurisdiction having a tax treaty with Spain.

Investing in Spain

Spain has improved the legislation related to foreign investments and gave more incentives to the private sector, which raised foreign investors’ certainty and changed Spain into the second biggest beneficiary of Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) and the third biggest financial backer in the European Union. 

Among Spain’s strong focuses are the expanding number of worldwide organizations working in Spain, the steadily expanding the travel industry, its proficient framework, the land transport organization and the new advancement of the environmentally friendly power industry. Spain additionally intends to get one of the biggest key members in the innovative work area. 

The Spanish Government has enabled the Malaga Valley project, that is made to have the biggest research and advancement focus in Europe intended for the data and interchanges advances.