Blevins Franks Spain

The UK Statutory Residence Test and what it means for British expatriates in Spain

In this week’s episode on Bay Radio, Jon Pemberton, Partner at Blevins Franks, discusses how the UK now has two residence systems for determining liability to UK taxation, focusing on the Statutory Residence Test and how the two systems serve distinct purposes.
What is the UK’s Statutory Residence Test? What purpose does it serve?
How does the test work? What sort of things are considered as ties?
What happens if someone meets both the UK and Spanish tax residence rules?
How can people ensure that they pay tax in the right place?
If you have any questions on the podcast topic contact Blevins Franks today.

Navigating Spanish taxation in 2026

Are you up to date on Spanish taxation in 2026? James Stirling, Financial Adviser at Blevins Franks, talks to Bay Radio about key Spanish taxes and gives insights on the Beckham law and why timing is so important when it comes to reviewing your tax planning.
What’s the difference between general and savings income, and has anything changed from last year?
How Spanish succession tax has improved over recent years?
How wealth tax may affect people these days? And what can those who are affected do to improve their position?
What are the insights into the Beckham law?
How often should someone review their tax planning?
If you have any questions on the podcast topic contact Blevins Franks today.

Spain tax residency

This week's episode on Bay Radio, James Stirling, Financial Adviser at Blevins Franks, share his financial insights and advice on how retirement in Spain compares to the UK, from a financial perspective. He also talks about understanding and navigating Spanish taxation.
When do you become subject to Spanish taxation instead of UK taxation?
What makes you resident for tax purposes?
What happens if you arrive in Spain part way through a year?
What happens if the government determines that someone should be paying tax here, but isn’t?
If you have any questions on the podcast topic contact Blevins Franks today.

The new UK tax year – and getting ready for April 2027

This week’s episode on Bay Radio, Brett Hanson, Senior Partner at Blevins Franks, explains what changed on 6 April 2026 and what hasn’t – and, importantly, he looks ahead to the much bigger change coming in a year’s time.
Have the rates changed at all for the 2026-27 tax year? What about thresholds?
What has changed from 6th April, that may affect our listeners?
With less than a year to go before the new reforms come into effect – what changes from that date?
If you have any questions on the podcast topic contact Blevins Franks today.

Investing during uncertainty

This weeks episode on Bay Radio, Brett Hanson, Senior Partner at Blevins Franks, provides perspective on navigating geopolitical uncertainty while maintaining a long-term investment strategy. He discusses why professional fund managers prioritise time in the market over timing it.
Are investment markets always impacted by geopolitical tensions?
Can you remind us about the ‘time not timing’ investment principle?
What will fund managers be doing during periods of uncertainty to keep their funds on an even keel?
What other advice do you for investors at times like this?
If you have any questions on the podcast topic contact Blevins Franks today.

Protecting and growing your wealth – five key elements for successful investing

Blevins Franks Partner, Jon Pemberton explores the five essential pillars of successful investing, covering everything from tax-efficient structures and risk profiling to the critical role of diversification and regular portfolio reviews for long-term wealth protection.
What would you say are the key elements of protecting and growing your wealth?
What are “tax efficient structures” and how big a role do they play in improving investment returns?
Is it fair to say that all savings and investments carry an element of risk?
How does one establish what their risk profile is and then build a portfolio around it?
How important is diversification – and how do you know if you have too little or too much?
Once you have set up your portfolio, how often should you review it and adjust it?
If you have any questions on the podcast topic contact Blevins Franks today.

Will your money last as long as you do?

Jon Pemberton, Partner at Blevins Franks, joins Bay Radio this week to discuss strategies for retirement longevity. Covering essential topics such as estimating lifelong income needs, protecting investments against inflation, optimising UK pensions for expats in Spain, and minimising the impact of taxation on your savings.
What issues should people think about when working out how much income they’ll need for the rest of their lives?
What’s your advice on how to make your savings and investments last longer and keep up with inflation?
What can British expatriates in Spain do to get the most out of their pension?
What about taxation? How can we limit the effects of taxation?
If you have any questions on the podcast topic contact Blevins Franks today.

Does Spain or the UK offer the best value for your retirement years? Part 2: Taxation

Does Spain or the UK offer better value for your retirement? In part two of our series, James Stirling, Associate at Blevins Franks, joins Bay Radio to dive into the complexities of taxation. We compare income tax rates, investment gains, and the impact of the Spanish wealth tax.
How do rates and allowances compare between the UK and Spain?
What about investment income?
Are many people affected by the Spanish wealth tax?
How do inheritance taxes compare?
 
If you have any questions on the podcast topic contact Blevins Franks today.

Does Spain or the UK offer the best value for your retirement years? Part 1: Visas, property and the cost of living

James Stirling Associate at Blevins Franks, returns to Bay Radio to begin a two-part discussion comparing retirement in Spain and the UK. In this episode he looks at visa costs, property prices, living expenses and healthcare to help those still deciding whether a move to Spain makes financial sense.
Moving to Spain now involves the extra cost of getting a residence visa. What costs are we looking at?
How do Spanish property prices compare to the UK, both for buying and renting?
Would you say the general cost of living is lower here in Spain than in the UK?
What about healthcare?
If you have any questions on the podcast topic contact Blevins Franks today.

The case for selling UK property: Part 2 – the Spanish tax implications and opportunities

Part two of our Bay Radio discussion about the case for selling UK property is now live. Brett Hanson, Senior Partner at Blevins Franks, focuses on UK property sales and what comes next for buy-to-let owners.
UK buy-to-let owners are considering moving into alternative investments. What advantages do other types of investments offer?
What tax issues do British expatriates in Spain need to be aware of if they retain UK property?
What about inheritance taxes?
If a British expatriate in Spain is selling UK property and wants to invest the funds in stocks and shares – what is your advice to them before they buy any new investments?
If you have any questions on this podcast topic contact Blevins Franks today.