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
4% flat
Kentucky state income tax
Kentucky has adopted a 4% flat income tax. Louisville is home to significant healthcare, logistics, and automotive employers. Kentucky's bourbon industry represents a notable niche: brand managers and executives from global spirits companies who relocate to Spain. Jacob Salama advises professionals and business owners from Kentucky 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 Louisville, Lexington, Covington, 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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky 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.
Kentucky state income tax (4% flat) ceases to apply once you properly establish non-residency in Kentucky. 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 Kentucky after departure; and (4) spending fewer than the statutory number of days in Kentucky 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.
Kentucky reduced its income tax rate to 4% in 2024 (down from 4.5%), with planned further reductions. Exit from Kentucky residency is relatively straightforward — the Kentucky Department of Revenue applies a standard domicile test. Changing domicile to Spain, filing a part-year return, and updating driver's licence and voter registration are the key steps.
Kentucky's economy includes the bourbon and distillery industry (Bardstown, Louisville), equestrian industry (Lexington — horse breeding, racing, and trading), automotive manufacturing (Toyota, Ford), healthcare (Humana in Louisville), logistics (UPS global hub at Louisville Airport), and coal (declining). Expats from Kentucky include bourbon industry executives, horse industry professionals (trainers, bloodstock agents, farm owners), automotive engineers, and healthcare executives.
For professionals relocating from Kentucky 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 Kentucky's state income tax rate of 4% on top of federal rates, the combined burden on earned income can approach ~41%. 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%) + KY (4%) | ~41% | ~$73,800 |
| Spain — Beckham Law (employment income) | 24% flat | ~€43,200 |
| Spain — Standard IRPF (no Beckham) | Up to 47% | ~€68,400+ |
Kentucky exempts $41,110 in pension income per year from state income tax (for government and private pensions alike, for retirees over a certain age). Social Security is exempt. This significant exemption disappears when residency moves to Spain — foreign pension income is taxed in full under Spanish IRPF.
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 Kentucky expats: Horse farm owners and bloodstock agents from Kentucky present interesting cross-border tax planning challenges. A Kentucky horse farm held directly by a Spanish tax resident is foreign real estate declarable on Modelo 720. If the horse farm generates rental or business income, Spanish IRPF applies to that income (subject to US-Spain DTA relief). Pre-departure planning around the farm's ownership structure is strongly advisable.
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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky: 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 Louisville in the logistics and healthcare sector are exploring remote work arrangements that allow them to live in Spain while continuing to work for their KY-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 Kentucky residents preparing to move to Spain include:
Why specialist advice matters: Moving from Kentucky to Spain involves simultaneous US federal, KY state, and Spanish tax obligations. General advisors typically lack the cross-border expertise to optimise all three at once. Jacob Salama advises Kentucky nationals moving to Spain on the complete picture — from pre-departure planning through the first Spanish IRPF return and beyond.
Moving from Kentucky 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.