Jacob Salama · International Tax Lawyer · Colegiado nº 11.294 ICAMálaga
24%
Beckham Law flat rate on employment income
6 yrs
Duration of Beckham Law regime
No state income tax
Alaska state income tax
Alaska is one of nine states with no state income tax — and even pays residents an annual Permanent Fund Dividend. Moving to Spain means encountering Spanish IRPF for the first time, making early planning with Beckham Law especially valuable. Jacob Salama advises professionals and business owners from Alaska who are relocating to Spain on the full spectrum of US-Spain tax compliance: pre-departure asset planning, Beckham Law applications, FATCA, FBAR and Modelo 720 obligations, and ongoing dual-filing coordination. Whether you are based in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, the planning principles are consistent — but the details depend on your specific circumstances and asset mix.
The 1990 US-Spain DTA (as amended by the 2013 Protocol) governs the allocation of taxing rights between the two countries. For US citizens — unlike nationals of any other country — the treaty's Saving Clause (Article 1(4)) preserves the United States' right to tax its citizens on worldwide income regardless of Spanish residence. A US national from Alaska who becomes a Spanish tax resident remains fully subject to US federal income tax. The foreign tax credit mechanism under Article 24 of the DTA is the primary tool for avoiding economic double taxation, but its application requires careful sequencing with Spanish IRPF or Beckham Law calculations.
The Beckham Law (Article 93 LIRPF), as expanded by Spain's 2022 Startup Law, allows qualifying individuals becoming Spanish tax residents for the first time to be taxed at a flat 24% on Spanish-source employment income up to €600,000, rather than the progressive general IRPF rate (up to 47%). Most foreign-source income is excluded from Spanish IRPF during the Beckham period. For professionals from Alaska earning in dollars from a US employer, this means: the Spanish salary is taxed at 24%, while dividends, rental income, and capital gains from US assets may be entirely outside Spanish IRPF. The application is made via Modelo 149 within six months of Spanish social security registration.
US nationals who move from Alaska to Spain and become Spanish tax residents face three overlapping foreign asset reporting obligations. First, the FinCEN 114 (FBAR) requires disclosure of all foreign financial accounts exceeding $10,000 in aggregate at any point during the calendar year. Second, FATCA (Form 8938) requires separate disclosure of foreign financial assets above the applicable threshold. Third, Modelo 720 requires Spanish tax residents to declare foreign bank accounts, securities and real estate above €50,000 per category. Jacob coordinates all three streams to ensure full compliance and to identify voluntary disclosure opportunities where historical non-compliance exists.
Alaska state income tax (No state income tax) ceases to apply once you properly establish non-residency in Alaska. The key steps involve: (1) establishing a new domicile in Spain (or another state before Spain); (2) filing a part-year resident return for the year of departure; (3) ensuring you do not maintain a permanent place of abode in Alaska after departure; and (4) spending fewer than the statutory number of days in Alaska in future years. The exact rules vary by state and some states (notably California, New York, and New Jersey) are particularly aggressive in asserting continued residency. Jacob advises on the state-level exit process as part of the integrated US-Spain move planning.
Alaska has no state income tax — making it one of the most tax-advantageous states for high earners. The Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) is paid annually to qualifying residents but ceases on establishing residency elsewhere. Moving to Spain terminates PFD eligibility; the final year's PFD is still subject to US federal income tax.
Alaska's economy is dominated by the oil and gas sector (BP, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil operations on the North Slope), commercial fishing and seafood processing, tourism, federal government and military, and mining. Expats from Alaska moving to Spain include oil industry professionals on rotation contracts, federal government retirees, fishing industry business owners, and remote workers who chose Alaska for its absence of state income tax.
For professionals relocating from Alaska to Spain, the Beckham Law (Article 93 LIRPF) — which allows a flat 24% rate on Spanish-source employment income up to €600,000 for the first six years — represents a potentially dramatic reduction in the effective income tax rate. When you factor in Alaska's state income tax rate of 0% on top of federal rates, the combined burden on earned income can approach ~37%. Under Beckham Law in Spain, Spanish-source employment income is taxed at just 24%, and most foreign-source income (dividends, capital gains, interest from US assets) falls entirely outside the Spanish IRPF base during the Beckham period.
| Scenario | Top Effective Rate | Approx. Tax on $180k Income |
|---|---|---|
| US — Federal (37%) + AK (0%) | ~37% | ~$66,600 |
| Spain — Beckham Law (employment income) | 24% flat | ~€43,200 |
| Spain — Standard IRPF (no Beckham) | Up to 47% | ~€68,400+ |
Because Alaska has no state income tax, there is no state-level taxation on 401(k), IRA, or Roth IRA distributions. Alaska residents have historically enjoyed a zero state tax burden on retirement income. Moving to Spain changes this entirely: 401(k) and Traditional IRA distributions become fully taxable in Spain under IRPF progressive rates. The Roth IRA double-taxation trap applies — the IRS treats Roth distributions as non-taxable, but Spain does not recognise the Roth's tax-exempt status.
Under Article 17 of the US-Spain Double Taxation Agreement (DTA), private pension and retirement account distributions (401(k), Traditional IRA, employer pension plans) are taxable in Spain — not the United States — once you are a Spanish tax resident. The US may withhold tax at source depending on the payer, but this withholding is creditable against your Spanish IRPF liability. The Roth IRA is a notable exception to this general rule: while the IRS treats Roth distributions as tax-free, Spain does not recognise the Roth's US tax-exempt status, potentially creating double taxation on Roth distributions. Planning your drawdown strategy before establishing Spanish residency is essential.
Key planning point for Alaska expats: Alaska expats lose the 0% state income tax advantage the moment they establish Spanish tax residency. For high earners who relocated to Alaska specifically to avoid state income tax, moving to Spain requires building in Spanish IRPF costs that were previously zero — the Beckham Law's 24% flat rate is therefore especially valuable for Alaskan professionals.
Spanish wealth tax (Impuesto sobre el Patrimonio) applies to tax residents on their worldwide assets exceeding the personal allowance (€700,000 for residents, plus an additional €300,000 for the primary residence). For expats from Alaska with significant investment portfolios, property, or business interests, wealth tax is an important planning consideration. The rates range from 0.2% on the first tier to 3.5% on the highest. The choice of Spanish region of residence significantly affects wealth tax exposure: residents of Madrid enjoy a 100% bonificación (effectively zero wealth tax), while Andalucía has a 99% bonificación. In contrast, Cataluña and Comunitat Valenciana apply wealth tax in full. For high-net-worth individuals from Alaska with substantial assets, the choice of Spanish region of residence can result in wealth tax differences of tens of thousands of euros per year.
Under the Beckham Law special regime (Article 93 LIRPF), Spanish wealth tax applies only to Spanish-located assets — not worldwide assets — for the duration of the regime. This is an additional major advantage of the Beckham Law for wealthy expats from Alaska: for the first six years of Spanish residence, your US brokerage portfolio, IRA, 401(k), US real estate, and other US-located assets are entirely outside the Spanish wealth tax base. Once the Beckham period ends and you transition to the standard IRPF regime, worldwide wealth becomes assessable.
Many professionals from Anchorage and Fairbanks in the oil industry and remote work are exploring remote work arrangements that allow them to live in Spain while continuing to work for their AK-based employer. This arrangement raises specific tax and compliance questions that must be addressed before the move.
A well-structured pre-departure process can significantly reduce your total tax burden and avoid costly compliance failures. Key steps for Alaska residents preparing to move to Spain include:
Why specialist advice matters: Moving from Alaska to Spain involves simultaneous US federal, AK state, and Spanish tax obligations. General advisors typically lack the cross-border expertise to optimise all three at once. Jacob Salama advises Alaska nationals moving to Spain on the complete picture — from pre-departure planning through the first Spanish IRPF return and beyond.
Moving from Alaska to Spain involves complex US-Spain tax interactions that general advisors miss. Jacob handles every private client case personally.
The content on this page is for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute legal or tax advice and does not create a lawyer-client relationship. Tax laws change frequently and their application depends on individual circumstances. Always obtain specific professional advice before taking any action. Jacob Salama — Salama Legal SLP — is a registered Spanish lawyer (Colegiado nº 11.294, ICAMálaga) and is not authorised to provide US or UK legal advice.