A self-employed company partner is a shareholder who controls their SL (Spanish limited company) or works in it and pays into the RETA, Spain's social security scheme for sole traders. They pay a contribution calculated on their actual earnings and can be paid by the company either as a director or as a professional. If they invoice services to the SL, they charge 21 % VAT and apply 15 % withholding, which the company pays over with modelo 111, the quarterly withholding return.
Social security contributions for an SL partner: which earnings count
A partner registered in the RETA pays contributions based on the earnings they obtain, just like any other freelancer under the actual-income system. The difference lies in what is added to those earnings: whatever the company pays them for their work also counts, whether they receive it as director's remuneration or bill it through an invoice.
This has a practical consequence. When you decide how much the SL pays the partner, you are also indirectly setting the contribution bracket. It is wise to review the earnings forecast every time the agreed remuneration changes, so you do not face an unexpected adjustment at year end.
The contribution is a personal expense of the partner, not of the company. Having the SL pay it directly is a decision that must be documented and has its own tax treatment. That is why it is best to agree it in writing and check with your adviser before doing so.
Paying the partner-director: payroll or invoice depending on the role
How the partner gets paid depends on what they actually do in the company, not on what is most convenient. There are three common situations:
- Management duties. Directing, representing and managing the company are paid as employment income, without VAT and with the withholding rate specific to directors. The articles of association must state that the position is remunerated.
2. Core business work without own resources. If the partner carries out the SL's activity using the company's resources, it is normally also treated as employment income, with no invoice and no VAT.
3. Professional services with their own set-up. If the partner provides a professional service with their own resources and is registered for that activity, they can issue an invoice to the company with VAT and withholding.
Mixing these routes without clear criteria is the most common mistake. An invoice that actually covers management duties or work done without own resources can be reclassified by the Spanish Tax Agency (AEAT), with adjustments to VAT and to the partner's IRPF (personal income tax).
How to invoice your own SL: example with VAT and 15 % withholding
A professional partner invoicing their company applies the general 15 % withholding under article 95.1 of the IRPF Regulation, because the recipient is a business. If they have just started their professional activity, they can apply 7 % during the start year and the following two, provided they notify the SL in writing.
| Invoice item | Calculation | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Taxable base | service fees | 1.000,00 € |
| VAT (21 %) | 1.000,00 € × 21 % | 210,00 € |
| IRPF withholding (15 %) | 1.000,00 € × 15 % | −150,00 € |
| Invoice total (base + VAT) | 1.000,00 € + 210,00 € | 1.210,00 € |
| Amount received | total − withholding | 1.060,00 € |
The partner reports the 210,00 € of VAT in their modelo 303, the quarterly VAT return. The 150,00 € withheld is paid in by the company on their behalf, and the partner deducts it in their modelo 130, the quarterly income tax prepayment, or in their annual income tax return. You can rerun the numbers with other amounts in the invoice calculator with withholding.
The invoice must reflect a genuine service, at a price consistent with the market and with the contract or agreement between the partner and the company.
Obligations for the SL and the partner when the partner invoices the company
Invoicing your own SL triggers obligations on both sides, with deadlines worth keeping in your calendar:
- The SL's modelo 111. The company pays in the withholding applied to the partner every quarter, within the same deadlines as the 303.
2. The SL's modelo 190. From 1 to 31 January, the company files this annual withholding summary using key G01 if it applied 15 % or key G03 if it applied 7 %.
3. The partner's modelo 303. The partner reports the VAT charged from 1 to 20 April, July and October, and from 1 to 30 January.
4. The partner's modelo 130. The prepayment is 20 % of the cumulative net earnings minus previous payments and withholdings borne, which is where the 150,00 € from the example is recovered.
5. Modelo 347 for both. If transactions between the partner and the SL exceed 3.005,06 € in the year, both report them in this annual third-party transactions return in February.
VeriFactu and e-invoicing: different dates for the partner and the SL
The partner and the company do not share the same VeriFactu date, because the deadline depends on the tax paid, not on size. The SL pays Corporate Income Tax (Impuesto sobre Sociedades) and the partner pays IRPF.
| Obligated party | Tax | VeriFactu (current BOE) | B2B electronic invoicing |
|---|---|---|---|
| The SL | Corporate Income Tax | 1 January 2027 | 6 October 2028, unless over 8 million |
| The professional partner | IRPF | 1 July 2027 | 6 October 2028 |
On 5 October 2026 the AEAT announced it wants to postpone VeriFactu to October 2028; this announcement is still pending publication in the BOE, so the 2027 dates remain in force. The breakdown by type of taxpayer is in the VeriFactu mandatory dates calendar. If the company or the partner pays tax in the Basque Country or Navarre, or keeps VAT records through the SII (Immediate Supply of Information), they fall outside VeriFactu.
Frequently asked questions
Can a self-employed partner invoice their own company?
A self-employed partner can invoice their own company if they provide a professional service with their own resources and are registered as a sole trader for that activity. If they only manage the company or work with the SL's resources, they are paid as employment income, without an invoice.
Does the SL have to withhold IRPF on the professional partner's invoices?
The SL receiving an invoice from a professional partner must withhold 15 %, or 7 % if the partner is starting their activity and notifies it in writing. The company pays that withholding in with modelo 111 and summarises it in modelo 190 in January.
When does a partner invoicing their SL have to use VeriFactu?
A partner invoicing their SL as an individual pays IRPF, so their current VeriFactu date is 1 July 2027. The company, which pays Corporate Income Tax, has 1 January 2027 as its date, so each side must prepare for a different deadline.
Do the partner's invoices to the SL go into modelo 347?
The partner's invoices to the SL go into modelo 347 when the yearly total with that same third party exceeds 3.005,06 €. Both the partner and the SL file the return in February, each from their own position as seller or buyer.
If you are unsure which date applies to you and which to your company, Fakturia's free VeriFactu risk diagnosis tells you in 2 minutes, based on your specific situation.