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The Sun
27-04-2025
- The Sun
The French town that looks more like Italy – with Roman buildings and huge music festival
TERRACOTTA rooftops, Roman arches and a major music festival attract tourists to a town in France - which looks more like Italy. Clisson, located in the Loire-Atlantique department of western France, is home to only 3,000 people but is a hidden gem not to be missed. 4 4 The French town is often compared to Italy, sitting at the crux of two rivers in the Loire-Atlantique region. The village underwent a radical transformation in the the early 19th century, following devastation caused by the French Revolution. When rebuilt by the Cacault brothers, who had fallen in love with Tuscan design whilst on their travels, Clisson gained its Italian feel. As a result, the town features unique Italian architecture compared to neighbouring French towns. Perhaps the most apparently Italian-inspired attraction in the town is the Domaine de la Garenne Lemot. This neo-Palladian villa is surrounded by pristinely landscaped gardens with an plants and classical statues reminiscent of Roman countryside homes. Another exquisite example of architecture in the town is the Château de Clisson which dominates the town's skyline. The 13th century Château towers over the Sèvre Nantaise River and is surrounded by other Mediterranean-inspired buildings. The Sèvre Nantaise River weaves through the town, which makes it a popular place for paddle-boarding, kayaking and riverside wandering. Many of the walks along the edge of the river also boast shady spots, perfect for admiring the town's architecture whilst enjoying a picnic. Inside the French menopause retreat The Pont de la Vallée, a bridge stretching over part of the Sèvre Nantaise, is also iconic to Clisson. In particular, it is unique due to its wooden structure, which often makes it a favoured spot for pictures. In the town itself, visitors can enjoy the Halles de Clisson, which is a covered market dating back to the 14th century. Clisson also sits at the heart of the Muscadet wine region, where it is surrounded by vineyards that produce crisp white wines. Many of the wineries remain uncrowded, offering more intimate tastings, where visitors can really get to know the vineyard, its wine and winemakers. For travellers who find themselves in Clisson in June, the town bustles with a festival that juxtaposes its picturesque image. 4 Hellfest is one of Europe 's biggest metal music festivals and each year over 180,000 people gather to enjoy a rock music from a range of artists. One of the headline acts this year will be Muse - the creators of 'Supermassive Black Hole'. For holidaymakers visiting the city of Nantes, Clission is the ideal day trip or weekend getaway, as well as a pretty holiday destination in its own right. Elsewhere in France is a town that looks like Cornwall. And here's a town in England that looks like something in the Swiss Alps. 4
Local Spain
02-04-2025
- Business
- Local Spain
What digital nomads need to know about Spain's annual income tax declaration
Today, April 2nd marks the start of Spain's income tax campaign - la declaración de la renta. If you were resident in Spain in 2024 for more than 183 days, then you will have to complete one before June 30th 2025. This year, you will only present data about income you received in 2024. It's important to note that the Spanish tax year runs from January 1st to December 31st, not April to April like in the UK. You will have to pay tax on your worldwide income, which includes all your income from jobs abroad, as well as rental properties overseas for example. If you are self-employed or have your own business, like many on the digital nomad visa, then you will be obliged to present this annual declaration. For those who are employed by companies abroad, you will also be obliged to complete it because you earn over €22,000 from a single employer. In order to be eligible for the visa in 2025, you must demonstrate a monthly income of at least €2,762. This equals €33,144, so well over the threshold of who needs to fill out the income tax form. Do I need to complete the income tax declaration if I only moved to Spain part way through 2024? That will most likely depend on the 183-day rule. If for example you moved to Spain in April 2024, then you were living here for more than 183 days, but if you only moved at the end of September, you were only here three months of 2024 - less than 183 days. This determines whether or not you were a tax resident in 2024 and if you need to complete the declaration this year or not. But, a lot of digital nomads on online forums recently have been asking questions like 'If I leave Spain for a couple of months and keep under the 183 days, do I still have to pay tax here?' While it's true that you are considered a Spanish tax resident if you lived here for more than 183, short times away from Spain do not count as not living here, because you still had Spanish residency. So, if for example you moved to Spain at the beginning of June, but left for the month of August (31 days) and then continued living in Spain again until the rest of the year, you would likely still be considered a Spanish tax resident even though you were only here 182 days. This is because Spain also considers you to be a tax resident if your main economic interests are located in Spain (which they are if you're physically working here, even if for a company abroad) or your spouse and children live in Spain. If in doubt, it's best to check with a tax professional like a gestor to make sure if you have to file one or not. I already submit my taxes every quarter, why do I need to do this as well? If you're self-employed and registered in the autónomo system, then you will already be submitting tax returns every quarter so the tax agency will already have an idea of what you're earning, so why do you have to do a fifth declaration? As the tax agency already has all your quarterly returns, the annual return is mostly used to declare any earnings outside of your work. For example, this could include interest from bank accounts, capital gains and income you receive from renting out a property abroad. This will help the authorities to accurately work out how much you'll have to pay. Can I complete it myself? If you're from a country like the UK, where you're used to doing the self-assessment income tax form yourself, you may be surprised to find that the Spanish form is pretty complicated and many people choose to hire an accountant or gestor to do it for them. If this is your first time doing your Spanish income tax return or you don't speak or understand Spanish very well, then we advise that you get some help. There are lot of questions that could catch you out if you don't understand for example one of the questions is if you want to contribute to the support of the Catholic Church. If you make a mistake on the forms, you will also be fined, so it's worth your while paying someone to help and save money in the long run. How much will I pay? You will pay most of your taxes in Spain quarterly, but there may be extra to pay on the annual return if you earned money from interest, stocks, renting out an apartment etc. Spanish income tax is paid as a progressive rate, depending on how much you earn. This could be anywhere from 19 up to 47 percent, the latter for incomes over €300,000. Exactly how much you will pay will depend on your specific circumstances.
Local Spain
21-03-2025
- Business
- Local Spain
KEY POINTS: Everything that changes about life in Spain in April 2025
La renta - Spain's yearly income tax campaign opens Spain's annual income tax return is called ' la declaración de la renta ' or just la renta for short, and this year the period in which to file it starts from April 2nd. Next month you must file your taxes for the previous financial year, which means for 2024. From April 2nd, you can present your taxes online, but you'll need to wait a little longer if you want to do it by phone. Take a look at our calendar of dates below. The campaign this year runs until June 30th which means that you have a little less than three months to get your papers in order and submit your returns. Many foreigners in Spain (and even Spaniards) opt for the services of a gestor to help them through as it can be quite complicated. Spain's golden visa to come to an end Previously one of the easiest visas for non-EU nationals to move to Spain was the golden visa, but from April 3rd, this option will finally come to end. The golden visa granted residency to those who bought either one or more properties worth €500,000, or invested €1 million in shares in Spanish companies, €2 million in government bonds, or transferred €1 million to a Spanish bank account. The Official State Bulletin (BOE) specifies that those who have sent in their application and corresponding documents before that deadline will still be able to have their Spanish golden visas granted, if they meet the criteria. But remember, if you are already a golden visa holder or a direct family member living in Spain, you will still be able to hold onto your residency rights when it comes to renewing, despite the scheme coming to a close. Rules for tourist lets in buildings in Spain change From April 3rd 2025, there will be a new rule regarding vacation rentals across the whole of Spain. It will mean that if a rental is located a residential building shared with others, owners will now need permission from the building's homeowners' association (comunidad de vecinos) in order to legally operate, as well as to obtain a tourist licence. The new law states: "You must previously obtain the express approval of the community of owners," and clarifies that the decision must be made with the support of at least three-fifths of the owners. Previously, neighbourhood associations had some say in the matter, but this now gives them more power. Spain's new rubbish tax to come into force A new rubbish tax with come into force from April 1st and is set to affect millions across the country. It means that from next month, municipalities must implement European waste regulations, meaning they will have to charge residents a garbage collection fee. It's important to note that it will only affect municipalities with more than 5,000 inhabitants. In some parts of Spain, there's already a rubbish collection charge, but the new rule means that those locations where it's already enforced will likely increase them. The main aim of the waste tax is to cover the real cost of waste management and establish a circular economy model in line with EU guidelines. Fees are likely to vary considerably from one municipality to another and also depending on the size and cadastral value of your property or commercial premises. It's estimated that the average fee for a normal property could range from €50-€150 per year. Easter celebrations take place This year Easter falls on Sunday April 20th, which means that Semana Santa or Holy Week runs from April 13th to the 21st, which is Easter Monday. It's an important holiday in much of Spain, which many people taking holidays from work and celebrations taking place in cities across the country. Some of the best and most colourful Holy Week celebrations take place in Seville, Málaga, Granada, Zamora, Valladolid, Toledo and Cuenca. It typically involves groups of religious brotherhoods parading through the city streets carrying elaborate floats known as pasos featuring statues of Jesus and the Virgin Mary. Día de Sant Jordi or San Jorge April 23rd marks St George's Day. It's not celebrated all over the country, but for certain regions it's a very important festival. In Catalonia, Día de Sant Jordi is a celebration of the region's patron saint and is marked by the gifting of books and roses. Many towns and cities will be draped in the traditional red and yellow stripes of the La Senyera (the Catalan flag). Dragons and roses will also decorate shop windows and plazas. April 23rd is also the Día de Aragón and a public holiday there. Like Catalonia, San Jorge is also the patron saint of Aragón. They celebrate with flower displays, cultural performances and meals with family. St George's Day is also recognised in the Balearic Islands and some places in Valencia and is marked with similar celebrations to Aragón and Catalonia. Día del libro Not only is April 23rd St George's Day, but it also coincides with UNESCO's World Book Day (Día del libro), as it celebrates the anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare and famed Spanish author of Don Quixote, Miguel de Cervantes one day earlier on April 22nd. Interestingly, it is international event, but originally started in Spain. The idea of celebrating Book Day came from Catalonia and Valencia. Valencian writer Vicente Clavel Andrés proposed it at Barcelona's Chamber of Books in 1923 and it was later approved by King Alfonso XIII in 1926.
