Spanish Property Taxes, Wills & Residency Explained for Expats

Thinking about buying property in Spain, moving to Sotogrande, or trying to understand Spanish property tax, non-resident tax, wills, and inheritance rules? In this episode, we break down the key legal and financial issues that foreign buyers, expats, and property owners need to know before making a decision.Today I sit down with Patricia Larrain, CEO of Grupo Consult and SOD Legal Services, to discuss what international buyers and residents often get wrong when purchasing property in Spain. They cover non-resident tax, rental income declarations, Spanish wills, inheritance tax in Andalucia, how Brexit changed the local landscape, what it takes to run a bilingual advisory business in Sotogrande, and why personal advice still matters in a world increasingly shaped by AI. This is a valuable episode for anyone considering relocating to Sotogrande, investing in Spanish property, or wanting to better understand how the community has grown over the last two decades.Timestamps00:00 Introduction01:00 Patricia Larin’s background and legal-financial advisory work02:17 Why Patricia moved to Sotogrande in 199704:39 Early career, NGOs, and international experience06:18 Why Sotogrande was the right place to build a business07:40 How Sotogrande has changed since the late 1990s09:29 Brexit, Covid, and the transformation of the local economy10:35 What “360 advisory” means for expats and entrepreneurs11:39 Helping non-residents, British residents, and foreign property owners12:24 Why the company expanded to Madrid and the Basque Country14:34 Growing the business to 47 people15:54 Spain’s regulatory uncertainty and electronic invoicing delays17:22 Digital change, pricing pressure, and business adaptation18:00 Politics, inflation, fuel costs, and economic uncertainty21:12 The most common legal issues foreign property owners face21:37 Property purchase taxes, notary costs, and legal differences22:10 Non-resident tax on Spanish property explained22:29 What happens if you rent out your property in Spain23:13 Why foreign owners should make a Spanish will23:27 Inheritance tax in Andalucia and family reductions24:35 Leadership, growth, and building a long-term team26:36 Patricia’s view on AI and the future of professional services27:35 How AI is changing real estate and advisory work30:47 How Patricia’s team helps buyers, companies, and trusts in Spain32:12 Quick-fire questions: bravery, work, and life in Sotogrande33:44 Why Sotogrande feels like paradiseContasult Sotogrande🔗 Website: contasult.com📲 Sotogrande: 956 695 148CONNECT WITH CHARLIE!📲 Mobile +34 607 911 661✉️ Email: [email protected]🔗 Website: https://charlesgubbins.com/STAY CONNECTED!📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charlieinsotogrande/👤 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/charlieinsotogrande👨‍💻 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/charliegubbins🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nollsotogrande🐦 Twitter: https://twitter.com/charliegubbins📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@charlesgubbins