Blog

The low-tax Canary Islands Special Zone (ZEC)

Constituent societies

The Canaria Special Zone (ZEC) is a low tax zone that was created within the framework of the Economic and Fiscal Régimen (REF) of the Canary Islands, with the purpose of promoting the economic and social development of the Archipelago. It has an unbeatable tax on the Corporate Tax which, together with the unbeatable geostrategic situation of the Canary Islands, makes the ZEC a particularly interesting destination for all those entities that want to operate in international markets. In addition to this privileged location, it should be noted that the REF allows the ZEC’s own benefits to be combined with those of the “Free Zones”.

Requirements that companies must meet for their installation in the ZEC zone.
At least one of the administrators resides in Canarias. Make a minimum investment of 100,000 euros (in Gran Canaria and Tenerife) or 50,000 euros (in the rest of the islands) in fixed assets allocated to the activity within the first few years, based on registration in the ROEZEC (Official Register of ZEC Entities).
Create at least five work positions (in Gran Canaria and Tenerife) or three (on the rest of the islands) during the first six months from registration with ROEZEC and maintain this mean while enjoying the benefits.

These entities will have the following benefits:
• ZEC entities are subject to the Societies Tax in force in Spain, but a reduced tax rate of 4% is applicable up to a base tax base (compared to the 25% that is the European average).
• Exempt from withholding dividends distributed by subsidiaries ZEC entities to their parent companies in another country of the European Union thanks to the Headquarters-Subsidiary directive and with the rest of the countries in which Spain has signed an agreement to avoid double imposition (more than fifty countries).
• Exemption of taxation on the Tax on Patrimonial Transmissions and Documented Legal Acts.
• Exemption of Especific Canarian Tax (IGIC) (equivalent to VAT) for the deliveries of goods and provision of services between ZEC entities, and for imports.