The short answer
How does tax change when moving from Catalonia to Madrid?
Yes. The regional top income tax rate for 2026 is 25.5% in Catalonia and 20.5% in Madrid; the state's half of income tax is the same in both, and wealth tax and inheritance rules also differ, as set out on this page.
Evidence: Official source · Machine-readable data · As of 15 November 2026
Side by side
Catalonia and Madrid: how do the regional rules differ?
The figures each region sets for 2026, side by side. n/a means the figure is not yet confirmed from two official sources.
Catalonia and Madrid: how do the regional rules differ?| Metric | Catalonia | Madrid |
|---|
| Regional top income tax rate | 25.5% | 20.5% |
|---|
| Regional top rate starts at | EUR 175,000 | EUR 57,320 |
|---|
| Combined top rate | 50% | 45% |
|---|
| Wealth tax minimum | EUR 500,000 | EUR 700,000 |
|---|
| Wealth tax top rate | 3.48% | n/a |
|---|
Combined rates add the state top rate to each region's top rate; the top brackets start at different incomes, so they are marginal rates at the top, not averages.
Regional rules
What do Catalonia and Madrid set?
- Regional top income tax rate: Catalonia
- In Catalonia the top rate of the regional general income tax scale is 25.5% for 2025 and 2026, set by art. 611-1 of the Catalan Tax Code book six (Decreto Legislativo 1/2024, as amended by Decreto-ley 5/2025).
Source - Wealth tax relief (bonificación): Catalonia
- Catalonia has no general wealth tax bonificación: Decreto Legislativo 1/2024 provides only a 99% bonificación for protected estates of persons with disabilities (art. 622-1) and 95% for managed forestry property (art. 622-2).
Source - Inheritance by children: Catalonia
- In Catalonia in 2026 children inheriting receive the art. 631-2 parentesco reduction and a sliding bonificación under art. 633-4.2 of Decreto Legislativo 1/2024: for under 21s it starts at 99% and falls by band to 20%, for children of 21 or over it starts at 60% and falls to 0%.
Source - Inheritance by a spouse: Catalonia
- In Catalonia in 2026 a surviving spouse or stable partner receives a EUR 100,000 reduction (art. 631-2) and a 99% bonificación on the inheritance tax quota (art. 633-4.1 of Decreto Legislativo 1/2024).
Source - Gifts to children: Catalonia
- In Catalonia in 2026 gifts to children (groups I and II) are taxed on a reduced scale of 5%, 7% and 9% under art. 633-2 of Decreto Legislativo 1/2024, provided the gift is formalised in a public deed.
Source - Regional top income tax rate: Madrid
- In Madrid the top rate of the regional general income tax scale for 2026 is 20.5%, set by art. 1 of Decreto Legislativo 1/2010 (as amended by Ley 13/2023).
Source - Wealth tax relief (bonificación): Madrid
- In Madrid the 100% wealth tax bonificación of art. 20 of Decreto Legislativo 1/2010 does not apply while the state solidarity tax on large fortunes is in force, which includes 2026; instead a regional bonificación equal to any excess of the wealth tax quota over the solidarity tax quota applies (transitional provision 7).
Source - Inheritance by children: Madrid
- In Madrid in 2026 children inheriting receive the art. 21 parentesco reduction (EUR 16,000, or up to EUR 48,000 for those under 21) and then a 99% bonificación on the inheritance tax quota for groups I and II under art. 25.1 of Decreto Legislativo 1/2010.
Source - Inheritance by a spouse: Madrid
- In Madrid in 2026 a surviving spouse (group II) receives a EUR 16,000 reduction and a 99% bonificación on the inheritance tax quota under arts. 21 and 25.1 of Decreto Legislativo 1/2010.
Source - Gifts to children: Madrid
- In Madrid in 2026 gifts to children (groups I and II) carry a 99% bonificación on the gift tax quota under art. 25.2.b of Decreto Legislativo 1/2010, conditional on a public document where the law requires it.
Source
State rules
What stays the same after the move?
These state rules apply in both regions.
- Solidarity tax on large fortunes: threshold
- Spain's Temporary Solidarity Tax on Large Fortunes (ITSGF) taxes net wealth above EUR 3,000,000, with a EUR 700,000 exempt minimum deducted first, under article 3 of Ley 38/2022.
Source - Tax residence test
- Under article 9.1 of Ley 35/2006, a person is Spanish tax resident if they spend more than 183 days in Spain in the calendar year, counting sporadic absences, or if the main base of their economic activities or interests is in Spain, and residence is presumed, unless proven otherwise, when their non-separated spouse and dependent minor children live in Spain.
Source
Questions
Questions about moving from Catalonia to Madrid
Is the regional income tax rate different in Catalonia and Madrid?
Yes. The regional top income tax rate for 2026 is 25.5% in Catalonia and 20.5% in Madrid; the state's half of income tax is the same in both, and wealth tax and inheritance rules also differ, as set out on this page.
When does the new region start to apply?
For income tax, the region that counts is the one where you spent most days of the tax year, so a move part way through a year can leave the old region in charge for that year. State rules also look at earlier years in some cases, so take advice before a move timed for tax.
Information, not tax or legal advice. Spanish regional tax rules change every year with the regional budget laws; the region of residence for the full tax year, the type of income and the location of assets decide what applies. Confirm the position for your case with the tax agency named or a qualified adviser.
