ExpatExplained Spain

Expat Explained · estimate printed · · not tax or legal advice

Self-employed · 2026 figures

Autónomo social security calculator

How much will you pay the Seguridad Social each month as a self-employed worker in Spain? Move the sliders and watch your band change.

Everything you expect to invoice, excluding IVA.
Deductible costs: equipment, software, coworking, your gestor…
How are you self-employed?
“Through my company” means you're a director or partner of your own SL (autónomo societario).
Used for the income tax estimate: half of it is regional.
You'll pay each month
€380.88
€4,571a year
18%of your profit
Band 8 of 15general table, band 5

Just registered? New autónomos pay a flat €80/month for the first 12 months, plus the MEI surcharge. Secondary sources put the total at about €88.64; the exact MEI amount has not been verified against an official source. A further 12 months may apply if net earnings stay below the minimum wage — check eligibility with the Seguridad Social or a gestor. unverified

Expenses Social security Income tax (estimate) You keep
About €194 more profit this year moves you up to band 9.
Where you sit among the 15 bands
€205.88€607.35
Tap a bar to see its band. Green bars are the lower "reduced" table for low earners.
Where your contribution goes

What to do next

  1. Register with the tax office

    Tell the Agencia Tributaria you are starting an activity, on the census declaration (Modelo 036).

    Modelo 036 at the Agencia Tributaria

  2. Register with the Seguridad Social

    Sign up to the self-employed scheme (RETA) and pick the band for the earnings you expect. If you qualify for the reduced first-year rate, you must ask for it when you register.

    Import@ss, the Seguridad Social portal

  3. Plan for the quarterly returns

    Most autónomos file income tax and IVA returns every quarter. Put money aside for both, and ask about IVA on invoices to clients outside Spain.

    Income tax at the Agencia Tributaria

  4. Compare with a job offer

    Weighing self-employment against a salary? See which leaves more in your pocket.

    Employee or autónomo? →

How the cuota works

Since 2023, autónomos pay according to their real net earnings (income minus expenses), not a base they pick freely. Your yearly net earnings are reduced by a 7% allowance for general expenses (3% if you work through your company), divided by 12, and placed in one of 15 bands. Each band has a minimum contribution base, and you pay 31.5% of it.

Do I have to know my earnings in advance?

You choose a band when you register, based on what you expect to earn. You can change it up to six times a year if things change.

What if I guess wrong?

After the year ends, the Seguridad Social compares your band with your tax return. If you paid too little you'll get a bill for the difference; if you paid too much, you'll get a refund.

Should I pay more than the minimum?

You can choose a higher base within your band. It costs more now but increases benefits such as sick pay and your future pension.

Is income tax included?

The headline is social security only. Below it we estimate your income tax (IRPF) for working on your own: your profit after expenses and these contributions, less a 5% allowance for hard-to-justify costs, taxed at the state and regional rates for where you live, for a single person with no other income. If you work through your own company, your tax depends on how the company pays you, so we don't estimate it.

The 2026 bands

BandMonthly net earningsMinimum baseMonthly cuota
1 (reduced 1) Up to €670.00 €653.59 €205.88
2 (reduced 2) €670.00 – €900.00 €718.95 €226.47
3 (reduced 3) €900.00 – €1,166.70 €849.67 €267.65
4 (general 1) €1,166.70 – €1,300.00 €950.98 €299.56
5 (general 2) €1,300.00 – €1,500.00 €960.78 €302.65
6 (general 3) €1,500.00 – €1,700.00 €960.78 €302.65
7 (general 4) €1,700.00 – €1,850.00 €1,143.79 €360.29
8 (general 5) €1,850.00 – €2,030.00 €1,209.15 €380.88
9 (general 6) €2,030.00 – €2,330.00 €1,274.51 €401.47
10 (general 7) €2,330.00 – €2,760.00 €1,356.21 €427.21
11 (general 8) €2,760.00 – €3,190.00 €1,437.91 €452.94
12 (general 9) €3,190.00 – €3,620.00 €1,519.61 €478.68
13 (general 10) €3,620.00 – €4,050.00 €1,601.31 €504.41
14 (general 11) €4,050.00 – €6,000.00 €1,732.03 €545.59
15 (general 12) Over €6,000.00 €1,928.10 €607.35

Sources

Seguridad Social — Bases y tipos de cotización 2026, Régimen Especial de Trabajadores Autónomos (Orden PJC/297/2026, de 30 de marzo). Last checked 16 October 2026. The official page was marked 'en proceso de actualización' when checked. The cuota is the minimum base × the sum of the published rates (31.5%), rounded to the cent. This is an estimate, not advice; your gestor or the Seguridad Social has the final word.

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