Self-employed in Spain charged €315 again despite invoicing nothing this year

In Spain, the self-employed contribution is owed simply by being registered with the RETA (the special scheme for self-employed workers), not by invoicing: a self-employed person with no income can see a €315 charge in the middle of January. In the UK, by contrast, there is no fixed monthly fee and contributions only start above an annual profit threshold.

The scene repeats itself every month: the bank alerts a charge of **315 euros** to the account of a self-employed worker who has not yet issued a single invoice this year. The entry, **TGSS R.E. Autónomos**, is not a mistake or a surprise fee. It is the contribution that the Tesorería General de la Seguridad Social (Spain's Social Security Treasury) charges to everyone registered with the Special Scheme for Self-Employed Workers (RETA), whether they have earned anything or not.

## You pay for being registered, not for invoicing

In Spain, registering with the RETA obliges you to contribute from day one. The system of contributions based on real income, in force since 2023, allows you to choose contribution base bands according to expected net earnings, but it does not remove the obligation: those who expect to earn little can opt for the minimum base, and still have to pay. The contribution is not suspended because the business is idle. It is only interrupted if you deregister from the scheme or if you certify temporary incapacity, and deregistration is not automatic: it has to be processed.

This is the point that most confuses newcomers. The Spanish system's logic is contributory and registration-based: you contribute to build up entitlement to a pension and benefits, not as a tax on what you earn. The practical result is that a self-employed person can accumulate months of contributions without a single euro of income, and the debt grows even with zero activity.

## United Kingdom: no fixed fee and a profit threshold

The contrast with the British model is striking. There is no mandatory monthly fee for *sole traders*. National Insurance contributions and income tax are settled through the annual return (*Self Assessment*) and calculated on net profits.

Below **£6,725** in annual profits there is no obligation to pay contributions; those who want to maintain entitlements such as the state pension can make voluntary class 2 contributions, of about **£3.45** a week. Above **£12,570** the class 4 contribution applies: **6%** on profits between £12,570 and £50,270, and **2%** above that figure. None of this is charged month by month: it is settled with HMRC, usually on **31 January** and **31 July**. The personal income tax allowance is that same £12,570.

## The underlying complaint: competing with a €300 backpack

The frustration caused by the charge is not just about the amount. It is the feeling of competing at a disadvantage. A Spanish self-employed worker bidding for a public contract in another European country carries a fixed cost structure their British competitor does not have: the contribution is paid even if the project never starts. That difference can tilt an award.

The debate on support for entrepreneurship adds another layer. Funds for *startups*, accelerators or innovation hubs exist, but they do not reach those who have not yet invoiced anything. The contribution, on the other hand, arrives punctually every month.

Caution: the contributions and thresholds cited correspond to the rules in force in each country and may change. Before making decisions about registering, deregistering or contribution bases, it is advisable to consult the Social Security or a tax adviser.