US vs Spain taxes (2026): income, capital gains and wealth tax

United States vs Spain tax rates at a glance

Tax	🇺🇸 United States	🇪🇸 Spain
Income tax	Personal income tax: 10% - 37% Social Security: 6.2% Medicare: 1.45% Additional Medicare: 0.9% State income tax: Varies	Personal income tax: 19% - 54% Reference employment scale: 19% - 47% Top marginal rate: About 54% Savings income: 19% - 30% Impatriate regime: 24% to EUR 600,000 Employee social security: About 6.5%+
Corporate tax	C corporation tax: 21% CAMT: 15% Pass-through entities: Different State tax: Varies	Corporate tax: 25% 2026 micro-enterprise first EUR 50,000: 19% 2026 micro-enterprise remainder: 21% 2026 small entities: 23% New companies and start-ups: 15% Credit institutions and certain hydrocarbons: 30% Canary Islands ZEC regime: 4% Pillar Two minimum: 15%
Capital gains tax	Long-term capital gains: 0% - 20% Short-term capital gains: 10% - 37% Qualified dividends: 0% - 20% NIIT: 3.8%	Individual capital gains: 19% - 30% Crypto gains: 19% - 30% Property gains: 19% - 30% Non-resident asset-transfer gains: 19% Non-resident property-sale withholding: 3% Exit-tax ownership threshold: >25% and EUR 1m
Dividend tax	Qualified dividends: 0% - 20% Ordinary dividends: 10% - 37% NIIT: 3.8% State tax: Varies	Resident dividend tax: 19% - 30% Dividend WHT: 19% Corporate participation exemption: 95% of qualifying dividend Non-resident domestic withholding: 19% Standard corporate tax before distribution: 25%
Wealth tax	Net wealth tax: 0% Property tax: Varies Estate tax: Up to 40% Gift tax: Up to 40%	Wealth tax: 0.2% - 3.5% State minimum exemption: EUR 700,000 Principal residence exemption: Up to EUR 300,000 Large-fortune solidarity tax: 0% / 1.7% / 2.1% / 3.5% Wealth Tax filing threshold: Gross assets over EUR 2m
Inheritance / estate tax	Federal inheritance tax: 0% Federal estate tax: Up to 40% Federal gift tax: Up to 40% Basic exclusion: $15,000,000	Inheritance tax: 7.65% - 34% Gift tax: 7.65% - 34% Group I state allowance: EUR 15,956.87+ Group II state allowance: EUR 15,956.87 Group III state allowance: EUR 7,993.46 Group IV state allowance: None State fallback effective ceiling: Up to 81.6%
VAT / GST / sales tax	Sales tax: Varies by state	VAT: 21% / 10% / 4%
Other key taxes	None listed on country overview	Reference employment scale: 19% - 47%

Who wins on each tax

Personal income taxUnited States

The US federal top rate is 37%, below Spain's possible combined rate of about 54%; US state taxes and citizenship scope can narrow or reverse the result.

Corporate taxUnited States

US C corporations pay 21% federally plus state tax; Spain's general rate is 25%, with special 2026 company bands subject to conditions.

Capital gains taxUnited States

US long-term gains generally use 0%, 15% or 20% federal rates, while Spain generally taxes individual savings gains at 19%-30%.

Dividend taxUnited States

US qualified dividends generally use 0%-20% federal rates, while Spain generally taxes resident dividends at 19%-30%; both can add other layers.

Wealth taxUnited States

The US has no federal net wealth tax; Spain has regional Wealth Tax and a separate solidarity tax for large fortunes.

The verdict

The US federal ordinary scale reaches 37% before state tax; Spain's combined IRPF can reach about 54% by region. A US citizen or green-card holder also keeps worldwide filing after leaving.

The US generally wins for long-term gains and qualified dividends at 0%-20% federal rates, while Spain's savings scale is 19%-30%. Spain can still be attractive under a qualifying impatriate regime.

Choose the US for capital markets, financial wealth and US business substance; choose Spain for an eligible employee move or European lifestyle base. State, regional, treaty, CFC and exit-tax rules need a full review.

How to read this comparison

The US usually wins the investment-tax comparison; Spain's case is strongest for a qualifying inbound employee or a specific regional and lifestyle plan. The US citizenship overlay is a major caveat.

Frequently asked questions

Is the US or Spain lower tax for investors?

The US is usually lower for long-term gains and qualified dividends and has no federal net wealth tax. Spain can be competitive for a qualifying impatriate or in a favorable region.

Does Spain tax US citizens who live there?

Spanish residence can tax worldwide income, while US citizenship can preserve US filing and tax. Treaty residence, foreign tax credits, CFC rules and asset situs need coordinated analysis.

United States vs Spain taxes