What to do if you are giving up your “autonomo” to return to the UK
Should you want to go back to the UK to find work, as many people are doing, then you need to consider how to stop your “autonomo” classification, if you are working on a self-employed basis. The process is quite simple:
1. Modelo 037 needs to be completed , it is downloadable from the Agencia Tributaria website. Whilst you can try and complete the form on-line, there is a fault, which prevents you from doing so. Section C : Baja (which means to exit the system) needs to be checked and a reason typed in the box. This can be “closed my business” prefearbly in Spanish, or “gone to UK to work and live”
2. Take the modelo to your own tax office and go to the “Censos” desk with you NIE and/or residencia, and passport. They will stamp the wto copies and give you one back.
3. Go to your own Social Security Administration office (In Orihuela they are iin the same street, but I am not sure about other areas) Go to the reception (registro desk) and they will probably give you a ticket. Watch the board to see which desk to go to. At the desk ask to “baja en autonomo”. They will enter the details and get you to sign some forms, and then you will get a copy which confirms the date from which you stopped being “autonomo”. They will not expect any further payments from you, until/if you decide to set up again.
Let your accountant have a copy, as he/she will no longer have to do your quarterly returns. If you have been in Spain over 6 months from January of the current year, you will still have to submit an annual tax return in the following year, and may benefit from a tax refund, if you have overpaid.
