Living and sailing in Spain Legally....

[lezgar]

You don't have any tax when you register your boat under Spanish flag if you can prove that VAT have been paid and you aply no later 1 month after became resident. READ THE SPANISH LAW HERE

If you have a British sailing cualification you can ask in Capitania Maritima for to be recognize with Spanish equivalent (only for EU members) READ THE SPANISH LAW HERE

 

[Grehan]

Andalucia

We're in Spain. Have lived on our boat (currently in Marbella) and also our house (currently, although we'll be back on board soon). We've applied for a Residencia (yesterday, actually) which is advisable for property tax reasons. The Residencia will take at least six months to come through because the system is overloaded, so don't worry too much about being found out if you 'overstay' the 183, or whatever it is or isn't, days.

The fear we have is that if our boat has to be re-registered in Spain (which I do understand is the law or the regulation whatever) then it is also assessed for tax purposes (VAT/IVA or purchase tax or something) and a tax payment levied. Could be substantial.

However, this is Spain folks.

Where no self respecting teenager wears a crash helmet or pilots his scooter in anything other than a completely suicidal manner. Like lots of the car drivers. If you think the jetskis around Chichester harbour are annoying, come here!
Where the country people do not trust banks and keep their dosh under the mattress (think of what their peasant smallholdings and run-down olive groves are now worth!).
Where drug trafficers and illegal immigrants populate the waters and occupy the Guadia Civil's time and efforts.

If you don't irritate the Spanish enforcement system or draw attention to yourself it will generally leave you alone. And that's best, 'cause it's fearsomely impolite and fearsomely bureaucratic.

The advice to take advice is good advice but the problem is finding any kind of knowledgeable advice about things 'on the ground' (as opposed to how the law is worded).