Ireland vs Spain: tax comparison for expats & nomads
A sourced head-to-head on Ireland and Spain: tax-residency rules, income tax rates, special regimes and nomad visas, side by side. Income tax only, not tax advice.
Effective income tax by income
An effective-rate comparison for this pair isn’t available yet (one country’s full bracket table is still being verified). The sourced fact comparison below still applies — and the interactive tool covers every modelled country.
Ireland vs Spain, side by side
| Ireland | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Top income tax rate | 52.2%ⓘIrish Revenue Commissioners“Any income above your standard rate band is taxed at the higher rate of Income Tax, which is currently 40%.”View source · accessed 2026-09-19 | 47%ⓘPwC Tax Summaries“Tax liability may therefore differ from one autonomous community to another”View source · accessed 2026-08-09 |
| Tax-residency day threshold | 183 daysⓘIrish Revenue Commissioners“280 days or more in total, taking the current tax year plus the preceding tax year together. You will not be resident in Ireland if you are here for 30 days or less in a tax year.”View source · accessed 2026-09-19 | 183 daysⓘPwC Tax Summaries“Spend more than 183 days in Spain during a calendar year. In determining the period of stay, temporary absences are included in the count”View source · accessed 2026-08-09 |
| Signature tax regime | [source]PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries“The reduction is capped at EUR 50,000 in any year from 1 January 2026 onwards (maximum cap of EUR 35,000 for prior years).”View source · accessed 2026-09-19 | Beckham regime: 24%ⓘPwC Tax Summaries“The applicable tax rate is 24% for the first EUR 600,000 of taxable income and 47% on any excess”View source · accessed 2026-08-09 |
| Digital nomad visa | No | Yes — Spain Digital Nomad Visa (international remote working visa)ⓘCitizen Remote“24% on Spanish-sourced employment income up to €600,000 per year”View source · accessed 2026-08-09 |
| Nomad-visa income requirement | — | EUR 2,850 / monthⓘCitizen Remote“~€2,850–€2,860 per month, equivalent to 200% of the SMI”View source · accessed 2026-08-09 |
Every figure links to its source and verification date. Full guides: Ireland · Spain.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ireland or Spain better for tax?
It depends on your income, residency status and which special regime you qualify for. Compare the residency rules, rates and regimes side by side below, and use the interactive tool for your own income.
Which has the lower tax-residency threshold, Ireland or Spain?
Ireland treats you as tax resident after 183 days, and Spain after 183 days. But ties like a home, family or economic centre can trigger residency on fewer days — never rely on a day count alone.
Does Ireland or Spain have a digital nomad visa?
Ireland has no dedicated digital-nomad visa; Spain has a dedicated nomad/remote-work visa (income requirement around EUR 2,850 / month). See the "Digital nomad visa" row below for the sourced detail.