Requirements and documentation you need to register as a freelancer
The first thing you need to know is that this is a two-part process; the registration in Treasury and discharge in the Social Security to the Special Regime for Self-Employed Workers (RETA). And while there is documentation that you will need to submit to both institutions, you will also need to prepare a separate form (known as a "template") for each. At a general level, you should have your personal data and the information corresponding to your economic activity at hand, including:- DNI, NIE or passport.
- Bank details (linked to the payment of contributions).
- Specifications about the activity to be carried out. Description, place where it will be carried out, etc.
Process and time involved in registering as a freelancer
Your first step to becoming self-employed in Spain should be to go to the General Treasury of the Social Security. There you can get your membership numberin case you don't have it yet, as well as to sign up for the registration in the Special Regime for Self-Employed Workers (RETA).. As mentioned above, in order to register you will need to file the model TA0521. In addition, you will have to calculate the contribution base, which will determine the self-employed quota you will pay monthly. And while we're on the subject, you should know that the first time you register as a freelancer you can access to a flat rate with a monthly fee of 80€ per month during the first year, which can be extended to the second year if you do not exceed the Minimum Interprofessional Wage (SMI). Registration with the RETA is a procedure that can also be carried out online through the Social Security electronic officeif you have an electronic certificate or Cl@ve PIN. The second step to becoming self-employed is register with the IRS. To do so, you must present yourself at the Tax Agency and register in the Census of Entrepreneurs. using the census declaration form 036. They may also use the form 037 simplified census declaration those persons who have been assigned a tax identification number, do not act through a representative, whose domicile coincides with that of administrative management, do not represent large companies and do not carry out distance sales. You can also file the corresponding procedure with the Internal Revenue Service through the AEAT Electronic Headquartersprovided you have an electronic certificate or Cl@ve PIN. Normally, these two steps, which are essential to exercise your professional activity as a freelancer in Spain, can take from 3 to 5 working days if you present the complete documentation and there are no incidents. However, the exact time will always depend on the particular situation of each person and the time it takes for the corresponding bodies to review and approve the documentation. On the other hand, there are a couple of other procedures that are not mandatory for all self-employed workers, but depend on the type of activity they will perform:- There are some cases in which the employee must apply for one or more licenses in order to carry out his or her activity. These vary according to the autonomous community and the municipality in which the activity is carried out, so it is important to verify this and carry out the corresponding formalities in advance, since it is necessary to specify them before the opening of the business.
- Those self-employed persons who open a space where they will employ other workers, must the opening of the work center at the Department of Labor of their autonomous community.. In order to carry out this procedure, you will need to present data such as the DNI or NIE, information about the activity to be developed and the workers to be hired.