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From January 2026, all Bizum payments made by self-employed individuals and businesses in Spain will be reported directly to the Tax Agency, under new rules published in the Official State Gazette (BOE). This follows the approval of Royal Decree 253/2025, which removes the previous reporting threshold of €10,000 and puts all such digital transactions under Treasury supervision.

 

The aim, according to the Ministry of Finance, is to strengthen the government’s efforts to prevent fraud and ensure that financial movements linked to business activities are properly declared.

 

As of 1 January 2026, banks and financial institutions will be required to send detailed monthly reports on Bizum transactions made by freelancers and companies. These reports must include the names of the recipients, the bank accounts involved, the amounts transferred, and the merchant numbers or payment terminals used.

 

The change could prove tricky for many self-employed workers, especially those who use a single account for both personal and professional expenses. In such cases, separating business income from private transactions may become a grey area, potentially increasing the risk of confusion, tax inspections or even penalties.

 

Previously, only Bizum transfers over €3,000 had to be reported to the Tax Agency. The updated regulation eliminates that minimum threshold, meaning that all transactions will now be visible to authorities. Any unusual activity picked up by the new reporting system could trigger further investigation into a business or individual’s tax affairs.

 

Digital payments like Bizum have grown rapidly in Spain since their introduction in 2016. By the end of 2024, more than 28 million users were registered across 38 banks, making around 3 million transactions daily - an average of 35 every second.

 

Its convenience has made Bizum especially popular in sectors like hospitality, personal services and small-scale retail, where quick, informal transfers are commonplace. But the Treasury believes this popularity has also left room for under-declared income, prompting the need for stricter controls.

 

Bizum’s reach has even expanded beyond Spain in recent months, allowing users in Portugal, Italy and Andorra to send or receive money across borders without changing apps or bank accounts.

 

While the Ministry insists the new reporting measures are designed to improve fairness in the tax system, some freelancers say they feel under pressure. “It is going to complicate things for those of us who use one account for everything,” one self-employed worker told us. “I just hope the Tax Agency takes that into account before jumping to conclusions.”

 

 

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