Royal Decree 253/2025 – Key updates you should know about
On 2 April 2025, the Spanish Government published Royal Decree 253/2025, introducing a series of tax reporting obligations targeting banks, card issuers, and digital payment platforms. While these changes mainly apply to financial institutions, they may also have indirect consequences for business owners and self-employed professionals.
What’s changing?
From January 2026, institutions like Revolut, Wise, and traditional banks must start sending detailed and regular reports to the Spanish Tax Agency (AEAT), covering:
Monthly data on bank accounts: balances, transactions, and account holders.
Card and mobile payments: transaction amounts, merchant details, and linked accounts.
Loans and cash operations: loans over €6,000 and cash movements over €3,000.
Annual declaration from card issuers: all contracts, users, and transactions.
How might this affect your business?
Even though you’re not the one filing the reports, this shift could lead to:
Greater scrutiny of your business payments or collections via digital platforms.
Cross-checking of your tax returns (e.g. VAT, model 347) with bank or payment provider data.
Questions about cash management or unusual loan movements.
Red flags if using foreign or prepaid cards frequently.
What should you do?
Review your payment methods: make sure they’re properly documented and justifiable.
Ask your advisor if you’re using alternative or international platforms.
Limit cash use, and always document internal/external loans clearly.
In summary:
The Spanish Tax Agency is stepping up its digital oversight. These measures aim to detect undeclared income and close gaps in information. Being transparent and well-advised will help protect your business from unnecessary audits or penalties.