Self-employed deregistration
Closing your activity properly avoids debts and penalties later on. We take care of your deregistration and the final steps so that nothing is left outstanding.
What it involves
Self-employed deregistration (baja de autónomo) is the procedure to close your activity when you stop working for yourself. You have to notify it to the Tax Agency (Hacienda), with the census declaration of cessation (declaración censal de cese), and to Social Security, and then file the final returns for the period. If it is done late or only halfway, contributions and obligations can keep building up.
Is this your case?
- You are closing your business or premises because the numbers no longer add up.
- You have found a job as an employee and are giving up your activity.
- You are leaving Spain or returning to your country and don't want to leave debts behind.
- You are still being charged contributions even though you stopped working for yourself a while ago.
How we help
We review your situation with the Tax Agency and Social Security, choose with you the best time to deregister and process the cessation with both bodies. We prepare your final returns and check that there are no outstanding invoices, contributions or debts. If you meet the conditions, we advise you on the benefit for cessation of activity (prestación por cese de actividad), known as unemployment benefit for the self-employed. And if you have a self-employment permit, we first look at how it affects you. We can help you in Spanish, Arabic, Tamazight, French and English, at our offices in Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Málaga and Barcelona or online, wherever you are in Spain.
Before closing, a tax registry change to switch activity may be enough; and if you are asked to pay contributions, we help you with Social Security requirements.
Frequently asked questions
- Is deregistering from Social Security enough to stop being self-employed?
- No. You have to notify the end of your activity both to Social Security and to the Tax Agency. If you only deregister from one of them, you may keep receiving contribution bills or requests for tax returns.
- What happens if I stopped working a long time ago and never deregistered?
- Contributions or unfiled tax returns may have built up. We review your situation, regularise your deregistration and, if you are asked to pay amounts you don't owe, we help you appeal.
- If I have a self-employment permit, does deregistering affect me?
- It can, because renewing that permit is usually linked to your activity. Before closing, we explain your options, such as changing to an employee permit.
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We speak Spanish, Arabic, Tamazight (Berber), French and English.