Moving your self-employed activity, car and home services to a new town

Terms used

• NIE — The NIE is the identity number for foreigners that you need for tax, work and contracts.
• Modelo 036 — Modelo 036 is the tax agency form for reporting changes to your census details, such as tax address or activity premises.
• Modelo 037 — Modelo 037 is the simpler version of the census form, for people whose changes are limited.
• RETA — RETA is the Social Security scheme for self-employed workers.
• Declaración responsable — A declaración responsable is a sworn declaration that your premises meet the rules, filed at the town hall instead of a prior licence.
• IVTM — The IVTM is the yearly vehicle tax paid to the town hall where your car is registered.
• Zona de bajas emisiones — A zona de bajas emisiones is a city zone where polluting vehicles can be restricted or fined.
• CUPS — The CUPS is the code that identifies your electricity supply point.

Key rules

• Tax address: Report your new tax address or activity premises to the tax agency within one month of the move.
• Premises: Ask the new town hall whether you need a declaración responsable or a full licence before you sign a lease.
• Vehicle tax: The old town generally keeps this year's IVTM, and the new town bills you from next year.
• Internet: Order internet 3 to 4 weeks before you move, because it is the slowest service to set up.

Start with your tax address

If you are self-employed, report a change of tax address or activity premises to the tax agency within one month of the move. Use modelo 036, or the simpler modelo 037 if you qualify. The 037 only covers limited changes to your data. File online with a digital certificate, Cl@ve or electronic ID, or in person with an appointment. Your activity premises are declared on the same form.

After that, your tax office may switch to the one for your new address. Also update your address with Social Security (RETA) through the TGSS.

Check the licence rules for your new premises

Moving premises to another town usually means a new opening notification at the new town hall. Ask before you sign a lease.

• For most ordinary shops and offices up to 750 m², a declaración responsable replaces a prior licence.
• Larger premises, or noisy, hazardous or protected-area activities (bars, restaurants with music, workshops, health or childcare), may need a licencia de actividad or licencia de apertura.
• The town hall's urban planning department decides, and each town has its own ordinance and form.
• Some professions also need an authorisation from the region.

You will usually need a technical project or certificate from an architect or engineer, the lease or title, proof that you paid the town hall fee (tasa), and your ID. If you only work from home with no public access, you usually need no licence. Building rules or community statutes may still limit it.

Update your car and driving licence

Tell the DGT your new address for both the vehicle registration and the driving licence. You can do it online with a digital certificate or Cl@ve, by phone, or at a Jefatura de Tráfico with an appointment. A simple address change has no fee. Bring your ID or NIE, the padrón certificate or other proof of the new address, and your vehicle and licence details.

The commonly cited deadline is 20 days from the move, so do it early. You get a new registration certificate. Your driving licence is updated on the register without a new card.

Vehicle tax: the IVTM

The IVTM is charged by the town of the address on the DGT register. It accrues on 1 January and is a full-year tax. If you move during the year, the old town generally keeps that year's tax, and the new town bills you from the next year. Part-year refunds are only given in specific cases such as de-registration or theft.

To avoid being billed twice, keep your proof of the DGT update and show it to the old town hall's tax office.

Check low-emission zone rules

Larger towns must have a zona de bajas emisiones (ZBE). Each town hall sets its own rules, schedule, fines and treatment of cars without a label. Look up your car's DGT environmental label with the plate, then read the new town hall's ZBE page. You can buy the label sticker from the DGT or a post office.

Move your home services

Order internet first, 3 to 4 weeks before moving. Fibre usually takes 1 to 3 weeks and longer in rural areas or where there is no line.

• Electricity and gas: arrange a few days to two weeks ahead. You need the CUPS number and, where required, a valid cédula de habitabilidad. A new connection or change of contracted power can take longer.
• Water: a change of holder usually takes 1 to 2 weeks.

The checklist, documents list and timeline below show the order and what to bring.

Timeline and deadlines

• Arrange the water change of holder with the lease or title and ID: 1 to 2 weeks before moving

• Arrange electricity and gas for the new home: a few days to two weeks before moving

• Update your address with the DGT for your vehicle and driving licence: within 20 days of the move

Documents you need

• Your ID or NIE, needed for the vehicle address change with the DGT (Spain's traffic authority).

• A padrón certificate (proof of registration at your new address, issued by the new town hall), or the new address document where needed, for the DGT address change.

• Your vehicle and driving licence details, for the DGT address change.

• A declaración responsable (sworn declaration that your new premises meet the rules) filed at the new town hall, for ordinary shops and offices up to 750 m². Larger or noisy premises may need a licencia de actividad or licencia de apertura instead.

• A technical project or certificate from an architect or engineer, issued for the new premises, where the town hall asks for it.

• The lease or property title for the new premises, for the town hall and for the water holder change.

• Proof of payment of the town hall fee (tasa) for the opening notification.

• The CUPS number (the code that identifies your electricity supply point) and, where required, a cédula de habitabilidad or boletín, for the electricity contract.

• Proof of your DGT address update, kept to show the old town hall's tax office and avoid double billing of the vehicle tax.

Checklist

• Ask the new town hall whether your premises need only a declaración responsable or a licence, before you sign the lease.

• Look up your car's DGT environmental label with the plate and read the new town hall's low-emission zone rules.

What to watch out for

• Paying vehicle tax in two towns: The vehicle tax follows the address in the DGT register, and accrues on 1 January for the full year. If you do not update your address, the wrong town may keep billing you, and the old town usually keeps that year's tax anyway. Update your address with the DGT, keep the proof, and tell the old town hall's tax office.

• Fines in the low-emission zone: Many larger towns restrict cars by DGT environmental label, and fines and treatment of unlabelled cars differ from town to town. Your car may be fine in your old town and restricted in the new one. Look up your label with the plate and read the new town hall's low-emission zone rules before you drive in. Visitors may need to register the plate.

Frequently asked questions

Will I pay the vehicle tax to my old town or my new one this year?

Your old town usually keeps this year's vehicle tax (IVTM), because the tax is a full-year charge that accrues on 1 January. The new town bills you from the next tax year, once the DGT passes on your new address.

Can I get part of this year's vehicle tax back after moving?

Usually no, a move alone does not give you a partial refund of the vehicle tax. Some town halls refund part of the year only in specific cases such as de-registration or theft, so ask the old town hall's tax office.

Can my car enter the low-emission zone in my new town?

It depends on your car's DGT environmental label and on the new town's own ordinance, so check the town hall's low-emission zone page before you drive in. Look up your label with the plate on the DGT site. Cars with no label are the most likely to be restricted, and fines and start dates differ from town to town.

How long before moving should I order internet at the new home?

Order internet 3 to 4 weeks before moving, because fibre installation usually takes 1 to 3 weeks after ordering. It can take longer in rural areas or where there is no existing line.

Do I need a new licence if I only work from home in my new town?

Home-based work with no public access usually needs no licence. Building rules or community statutes can still limit it, so check them before you move your activity there.