Paying Bills & Banking In Spain

A quick guide to paying bills and banking in Spain.

Paying Bills

The typical bills for Spanish homes are;

• Local Property Tax
• Rubbish Collection Tax
• Community Fees (privately shared land only)
• Electricity & Gas
• Water
• Telephone/Broadband

Property Tax & Rubbish Collection Tax

Once you have signed the deed on your Spanish property, the Public Notary will inform your local town hall that you are now the legal owner. The process then allocates the Local Property Tax (I.B.I.) for the property in your name and issues the first bill. The process can take several months but you can continue to live in the property and use public services during this time. Notifications will be sent direct to the property.

Once it is done, you can set up payment via direct debits for property tax and rubbish collection.

Community Fees

Community fees are applicable for gated/private communities, apartments, etc. These fees are set by the management company covering things like general maintenance, landscaping, emergency repairs. These will be stipulated in the contract when buying your property.

Community fees are most commonly paid by direct debit.

Electricity & Gas

There are two types of provider in Spain, the open market (mercado libre) or the regulated market (mercado regulado). Most energy providers in Spain typically operate in both markets but are required to operate under a different name in each market.

Gas is not as common in Spain, in general most Spanish homes use only electricity and very few Spanish towns have mains gas supplies, instead those opting for gas use bottled deliveries. If you are using gas, you’re required to check gas appliances for safety once a year.

The most common form of paying fuel bills in Spain is direct debit.

It’s worth noting that Spanish fuel companies don’t enjoy a great reputation for customer service and one of the chief complaints is billing. To avoid overpayment, check your bills regularly. Bills are most commonly issued monthly or bi-monthly in Spain.

Learn about our Removals to Spain…

Water

Water bills are normally issued monthly or quarterly. Similar to the UK, there is no open market, each area/city has one water provider which will be either privately owned, state run or a mix of the two. Water rates can vary widely from region to region. Water rates are also subject to change due to demand and availability (typically more expensive during the drier months).

Most providers will require a direct debit to set up an account.

Telephone & Broadband

There are a number of landline and broadband providers in Spain. Like telecom providers in the UK, not all companies operate in all regions. Prices do vary so shop around for the best deals.

All services require direct debit payments to be set up when opening an account.

Setting Up Payment

To open an account for most utilities you’ll need to provide;

• Photo ID
• Your NIE number
• Your bank details
• Proof of address

Please note; many utilities (particularly state services) require payment through a Spanish bank account. This is slowly changing but in many cases having a Spanish account can make things a little easier.

Spanish citizens and foreign residents are required by law to have an identification number, or Número de Identificación de Extranjero. There are a number of online services that provide help to apply for an NIE.

Banking In Spain

You’re not legally required to have a Spanish bank account to be a resident, but in some instances it can be easier setting up payments through a localised bank. Most Spanish bank accounts aren’t free and while costs are low, there are charges for basic services you might not be used to being charged for in the UK.

Some of the major Spanish banks offer non-resident accounts specifically for foreign residents and have English speaking telephone banking services. Smaller branches do not always have English speaking staff.

How To Open A Bank Account

Accounts usually take 1 – 5 days to set up and cards and documents typically arrive within 2 weeks.

To open an account in Spain you’ll be asked to provide;

• Photo ID
• NIE Number
• Proof of address
• Proof of employment (employment contract, unemployment documentation, student card)

Non-Spanish documents may need to be officially translated and/or authenticated with an Apostille stamp.

An Apostille is an official government certificate added to documents being presented in a foreign country. 

Payments

Direct Debit

Referred to as SEPA debit in Spain, direct debit is by far the most common way to pay bills. Many services including utilities won’t allow you to open an account without first setting up a direct debit.

Cheques

Cheques are rarely used in Spain and many companies, services and individuals won’t accept payment by cheque. Where cheques are accepted, most banks charge a percentage of the amount for processing the transaction, which means for larger cheques the commission can be considerable.

Online Banking

Online banking is increasingly common. Many foreign residents living in Spain prefer to use an international bank or bank from their country of origin. However, it’s worth noting that many Spanish companies will ask for payment via a Spanish bank. Digital banking is an easy way to set up direct debits and keep an eye on bills and transactions (some Spanish service providers don’t have the best reputation for accuracy or customer service).

All the above information was correct at the time of writing. Spanish legislation is liable to change and we recommend you check with the correct Spanish authorities and service providers for the latest details.