Self-employed contributions in 2023: how much will I have to pay?

If you are thinking of becoming self-employed or already are, you should know that one of the obligations that comes with registering under the Special Social Security Scheme for Self-Employed Workers (Régimen Especial de Trabajadores Autónomos, RETA) is the monthly payment of the so-called self-employed contribution (cuota de autónomos).

Self-employed workers must pay contributions from the first day on which they start their activity. It should be noted that, both in the month of registration and in the month of deregistration as a self-employed worker, the resulting contribution will be proportional to the days registered, without having to pay the full monthly amount.
The amount of the contribution bases determines the benefits that a self-employed worker can receive in the following situations:
• Cessation of activity.
• Sick leave.
• Leave due to an accident.
• Retirement.
What does this mean for self-employed workers?
First of all, instead of choosing a contribution between the minimum and maximum base, regardless of actual income, as had been the practice until now, the contribution paid by each self-employed worker must be aligned with their actual income from 2023 onwards.
To calculate this estimate and find out what contribution we will have to pay each month, the self-employed worker must add up all of the month’s invoices, once taxes such as VAT or Personal Income Tax (IRPF) have been settled, and subtract all monthly expenses associated with carrying out the professional activity. With the result, it is necessary to consult the tables published in the Official State Gazette (BOE)PDF and check which contribution we are required to pay. In any case, Social Security has just launched a contribution simulator, which works as a calculator, so that the appropriate estimates can be made.

Self-employed contributions in 2023: contributions based on actual income
Since January 1, 2023, the self-employed contribution has been determined by the contribution system for self-employed workers based on their actual income. This is provided for in Royal Decree-Law 13/2022, of July 26, establishing a new contribution system for self-employed workers and improving protection for cessation of activity.
Accordingly, the self-employed contribution system becomes a progressive contribution model phased in over 3 years, between 2023 and 2025, under which self-employed workers with lower income see their contribution reduced, while it increases for those who earn the most.
This system establishes 15 contribution brackets, in one of which each self-employed worker must be placed according to their projected income. While the lower brackets entail a reduction in the contribution compared with the previous minimum base, in the higher brackets it increases.
This new system establishes the following monthly contributions:
• Year 2023: minimum contribution of €230 and maximum of €500.
• Year 2024: minimum contribution of €225 and maximum of €530.
• Year 2025: minimum contribution of €200 and maximum of €590.
Therefore, since January 1, 2023, self-employed workers have paid Social Security contributions based on their actual income, selecting one of the 15 net income brackets with its corresponding monthly contribution.
And at the end of each year, the self-employed worker must regularize their contributions with the authorities. In other words, they must repay or claim back contributions if the bracket corresponding to their final net income is below or above the one indicated by their projections during the year.

New features of the contribution system for self-employed workers based on actual income.
The main new features introduced with the contribution system for self-employed workers based on their actual income are:
• €80 flat rate: the flat rate for self-employed workers becomes €80 during the first 12 months of activity, regardless of their income. And in the following 12 months, the self-employed worker may continue to pay the €80 monthly contribution provided that their net income is below the national minimum wage (SMI).
• Protective coverage: cessation of activity: a benefit of 50% of the benefit calculation base (base reguladora) is established, compatible with another activity. It can be received for between 4 months and 2 years without having to deregister from the RETA and without the business having to close.
• Deductions: a deduction for general expenses of 7% is introduced for individual self-employed workers and of 3% for corporate self-employed workers (autónomos societarios).
• Change of bracket every 2 months: self-employed workers are allowed to change their contribution base up to 6 times a year (every 2 months), depending on their projection, upward or downward, of how their business is performing.
• Pension plan tax deduction: self-employed workers can deduct 10% of their pension plan contributions in Personal Income Tax.
• No contribution cap for those over 47: the contribution cap for workers over 47 years of age ceases to exist in 2023.

How is actual income calculated?
The new system is based on contributions according to the self-employed worker’s actual income, also referred to as net income. To calculate it, you must take into account all of the net income obtained from the various activities you carry out as a self-employed worker. To this you will have to add the amount of the contributions paid to Social Security if you are taxed under the direct assessment method (estimación directa).
Lastly, you will have to apply a deduction for general expenses of 7% to your net income. The deduction will instead be 3% in the case of partners in commercial companies or worker-partners (socios laborales) who have been registered as self-employed for 90 days in the year.
Accordingly, if you were already registered as self-employed as of January 1, 2023, you must report your income before October 31, 2023 through the “Modify your self-employment data” service (Modifica tus datos de trabajo autónomo).
And if you need to report a change in your contribution base, because your income results in a contribution base different from the one on which you had been contributing, you will have to request that change and report your projected annual net income, as a monthly average, before February 28. In this way, no subsequent regularization of contributions will be necessary.


When can self-employed workers change their contribution base?
To take advantage of the contribution changes in 2023 as a self-employed worker and adjust contributions over the year, so that by the end of the year we have come as close as possible to what we should be paying to Social Security and do not have to make any adjustment, certain dates must be borne in mind.
Accordingly, self-employed workers may change their contributions in the following periods and with the following effective dates:
• From January 1 to the last day of February, for the change to take effect on March 1.
• From March 1 to April 30, with effect from May 1.
• From May 1 to June 30, with effect from July 1.
• From July 1 to August 31, with effect from September 1.
• From September 1 to October 31, effective November 1.
• From November 1 to December 31, for the change to take effect on January 1 of the following year.