Bookkeeping & Accounting in Spain for Foreign-Owned Companies

🇪🇸 Why Accounting in Spain Matters for Foreign Companies

Accounting in Spain is not just about keeping records — it’s a legal obligation, tied to tax declarations, corporate compliance, and audit risk. Whether you’re a one-person SL or a growing startup, you must comply with Spain’s mercantile and tax code.

✅ Every SL or branch must follow Spanish GAAP (PGC)
✅ Deadlines are strict and linked to tax filings
✅ Fines apply for missing ledgers or late submissions

💡 At Borderless Lawyers, we manage bookkeeping + tax for foreign founders and SMEs.

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📊 Accounting Rules for Spanish Companies (SLs)

You must maintain the following ledgers:

These must be digitally submitted to the Mercantile Registry annually — usually within 4 months after year-end.

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📅 Bookkeeping and Filing Deadlines

📌 All filings must be done electronically, and errors may trigger automated inspections.

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💰 Hiring an Accountant or Doing It Yourself?

You can:

• Hire a gestor or accountant to manage the full process

• Use cloud accounting software (e.g. Holded, Quipu, Sage Spain)

• Work with a law firm offering legal + tax compliance (like us)

💡 Most foreign business owners prefer bundled services to avoid multi-provider confusion.

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⚠️ Common Mistakes by Foreign-Owned Companies

⛔ Failing to register books with the Mercantile Registry
⛔ Not issuing compliant Spanish invoices (with IVA, NIF, etc.)
⛔ Using foreign accounting software that doesn’t match Spanish GAAP
⛔ Missing VAT or corporate tax filings
⛔ Not reconciling Modelo 200 and financial accounts

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🏦 Accounting for Spanish vs. Foreign Income

• If your company sells to Spain or EU: Spanish VAT rules apply

• If your SL invoices clients abroad: different VAT treatments (reverse charge, exempt)

• You must declare all worldwide income unless structured as a branch

📌 We help structure operations to optimize taxes while remaining compliant.

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🧑‍💼 Our Accounting & Bookkeeping Services

At Borderless Lawyers, we provide:

✅ Monthly bookkeeping & ledger maintenance
✅ Invoice compliance review (IVA, NIF, IRPF)
✅ Quarterly and annual tax filings (AEAT + Mercantile Registry)
✅ Communication with your tax office (Delegación de Hacienda)
✅ Support with audits, fines, or error corrections
✅ Multilingual service for founders abroad

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📞 Need Help with Accounting in Spain?

We help international founders and businesses manage their accounts in Spain — clearly, correctly, and on time.

👉 Contact us to set up your accounting and bookkeeping with legal oversight.