Self-employed fees 2026: what you need to know right now

Self-employed fees 2026: what you need to know right now

We know… news about higher social security contributions never comes with good vibes 🫠.
And yes, it looks like 2026 will bring a new increase for Spain’s self-employed workers — with monthly rises ranging from €17 to €206, depending on each person’s income bracket.

The proposal, presented by the Spanish government, isn’t final yet — but it’s already sparked concern among freelancers wondering what it really means for them.

At Xolo, we want to walk you through what’s actually known so far, what’s still pending, and how to prepare without stress.

👀 What’s in the proposal?

The Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration has proposed adjusting the contribution bases for freelancers under the RETA system.

The idea is simple: that each self-employed person contributes in line with what they actually earn, through a more progressive and realistic scale.

In theory, this would mean:

• Smaller increases for those earning less
• More noticeable rises for mid- and high-income brackets
• A broader contribution scale to better reflect income differences

In numbers: contributions could rise by between €17 and €206 per month.

The official goal is to strengthen the pension system’s sustainability and balance contributions more fairly across income levels.

💡 As of now, the exact brackets and percentages are still undefined, and it’s not yet clear if there will be temporary bonuses or reliefs for new freelancers. So the best thing you can do is stay informed, without stressing over it.

📊 Proposed self-employed fees for 2026–2028

While the final version hasn’t been approved, the Ministry has shared an initial draft table showing how contributions could look from 2026 onwards.

These figures are part of the government’s proposal and may still change before final approval. Still, they give a general idea of how contribution brackets could be distributed. 👇

(Source: Proposal presented by the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration (October 2025). Figures may change before final approval.)

As you can see, the difference between brackets is significant — especially for freelancers in the middle-income range.

💬 How freelancers’ associations have reacted?

The main associations have already voiced their concerns and called for a balanced and well-negotiated reform.

• ATA opposes “disproportionate” increases and demands deductions, support measures and transition periods to protect those with tighter margins.
• UPTA insists on transparency in the calculations and highlights that many small businesses already operate on very slim profit margins.
• CEAT agrees the system needs updating but asks for less bureaucracy and more fiscal incentives.

In short:
👉 Any change should be gradual, fair, and accompanied by real measures that support entrepreneurship instead of making it harder.

🔍 What’s still to be defined?

For now, there are no official tables or confirmed dates.
If approved, the new contribution brackets could take effect from January 2026, although discussions are still ongoing.

In the meantime, we recommend that you:

• Review your current contribution base
• Estimate how a potential increase could affect your income
• Keep an eye on updates from the Ministry and Social Security

💡In summary

Everything suggests that self-employed contributions will rise progressively between 2026 and 2028, with average increases ranging from €17 to over €200 per month, depending on income levels.

In practical terms:

• Freelancers with lower incomes would face moderate rises (around €10–€20 per year).
• Those in mid-income brackets may notice more substantial increases (around €40–€80 per year).
• And those with higher earnings could see over €200 more per month by the end of the period.

Although the details are not final, it’s a good time to review your contribution base, check where you stand, and prepare for the coming changes calmly and proactively.

💬 Freelancing made easy with Xolo

We know changes like these are rarely good news — but you don’t have to face them alone.

With Xolo, managing your freelance activity is simple, transparent and stress-free.

We handle your paperwork, invoicing, tax filings and legal obligations so you can focus your time and energy on what really matters: growing your business.

👉 Discover Xolo & forget the stress of being self-employed.