Freelancers in Spain could see their monthly fees rise by up to €200.
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Spain’s Social Security Ministry has unveiled a proposal that could hit freelancers hard – with monthly contributions set to rise between €10 and €200 by 2026.
The government has already shared its draft plan with unions and business groups, laying out how self-employed workers’ fees could change over the next three years. The idea is to update the current RETA system – the contribution model for freelancers – which adjusts fees based on actual income.
If approved, the new brackets would come into force in 2026, and the increase would depend on how much each worker earns.
How much more will freelancers pay?
According to Eleconomista.es, under the new proposal, monthly payments would range from €217 for those earning over €710, up to €796 for freelancers making more than €6,000 a month. Both the contribution bases and brackets would rise gradually from 2026 to 2028.
For those earning below Spain’s minimum wage (SMI), the Ministry proposes a ‘reduced table’ with smaller increases – between 4.2 per cent and 8.6 per cent. Freelancers bringing in less than €670 a month would pay €217 in 2026, rising to €234 in 2027 and €252 in 2028. Those earning between €900 and €1,166 would pay around €271 a month by 2026.
The general table, which applies to freelancers earning above the SMI, would start at €300 a month and climb to €796 for higher earners.
Strong backlash from freelancer groups
Reactions have been mixed – and in some cases, furious. The Union of Professionals and Self-Employed Workers (UPTA) said the proposal “looks similar” to what was agreed in 2022 but added that they plan to review it closely and suggest adjustments. The organisation also wants a new lower bracket for freelancers earning under €4,000 a year.
Meanwhile, the Spanish Federation of Self-Employed Workers (ATA) has flatly rejected the plan. Its president, Lorenzo Amor, didn’t mince words after the meeting, saying, “The government lives in a bubble – this is yet another blow to self-employed workers.”
He also pointed out that the reform still doesn’t fix problems with unemployment benefits for freelancers, warning that around “60 per cent of applications are still being denied.”
What’s next for Spain’s freelancers?
Talks between the government and social partners will continue in the coming weeks, but time is ticking. The new rates need to be agreed upon before January 1, 2026, as required by the law that regulates the current system.
While the Ministry insists the reform aims to make contributions fairer, many freelancers say the timing couldn’t be worse, given the rising cost of living and inflation.
If nothing changes, Spain’s 3.3 million freelancers could soon be facing heftier monthly bills – another financial hit for a sector that already feels squeezed.
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Source: Spain plans new fee hike for freelancers
