What is Modelo 030? The Spanish tax census form, in plain English
Somebody has told you to "file a 030" and the Tax Agency's own page explains it in Spanish, in the language of a statute. Here is what the form actually does, in three minutes.
The short version
Modelo 030 is the form that keeps the Spanish Tax Agency's census of taxpayers up to date. It is how you get into that census, and how you correct what it says about you. It is not a tax return: nothing is paid when you file it.
What it is used for
- Registering in the tax census. The usual case for a foreigner who has a NIE but whose number "does not appear" when a bank, a notary or the Tax Agency looks it up.
- Changing your tax address, in Spain or abroad, which is the address the Tax Agency uses for every notice it sends you.
- Changing personal details: surname, marital status, phone number, email for notices.
- Applying for a tax number if you have no DNI and no NIE and are not obliged to hold one.
- Requesting a new tax number card when you have lost yours.
NIE, NIF, DNI: sorting out the names
| Number | Issued by | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| DNI | National Police | The identity number of Spanish nationals. It doubles as their tax number. |
| NIE | National Police | The identity number of foreigners with interests in Spain. It doubles as their tax number, once they are in the tax census. |
| NIF | Tax Agency | Your tax identification number. For foreigners with no NIE, the Tax Agency issues one of its own, beginning with M. |
How it is filed
Three routes exist: at the Tax Agency's electronic office with a Spanish digital certificate or Cl@ve, in person with an appointment, or through a representative who files it for you.
The third is what most foreigners need, for a simple reason: getting a digital certificate usually requires a working tax number, and a working tax number is precisely what you are trying to obtain. A representative breaks that circle.
What it costs and how long it takes
The Tax Agency charges nothing. Our fee for handling the filing is €96.80 (€80 + VAT), whichever of the situations above applies to you.
A census registration for someone who already has a NIE is usually confirmed within a couple of days, and we send you the Tax Agency's card as soon as it is issued. An application for a tax number by someone with no NIE is a different, slower procedure — see our guide on the Spanish tax number without a NIE.
Not sure which of these is your case?
Tell us your situation and we will tell you which registration you need before you pay anything. If it turns out you do not need us, we will say so.
Ask us →Frequently asked questions
Is Modelo 030 the same as Modelo 036?
No. Modelo 036 is the census declaration for businesses and self-employed professionals. Modelo 030 is for individuals who are not registering a business activity.
Do I need to be resident in Spain?
No. Non-residents are registered too, with their address abroad, whenever they have dealings with tax significance in Spain.
What is the card everyone mentions?
It is the document the Tax Agency issues confirming your tax number is active. Banks and notaries often ask for it.
I have lost my old one. Can I get another?
Yes, the same form is used to request a replacement card.