Modelo 115 is a quarterly tax modelo used by autónomos and businesses to declare the income tax (IRPF) they have withheld on rent payments for their business premises.
Think of it this way: when you rent an office, a workshop or any space for your freelance work, you don't pay the full rental amount to your landlord. Instead, you withhold a portion of it to pay directly to the tax office on your landlord's behalf. Modelo 115 is the modelo you use to report and pay that withheld amount.
When do you file Modelo 115?
Modelo 115 is a quarterly declaration, which means you need to file it four times a year. The deadlines are tied to the end of each calendar quarter:
- First Quarter (January - March): File by April 20
- Second Quarter (April - June): File by July 20
- Third Quarter (July - September): File by October 20
- Fourth Quarter (October - December): File by January 20 of the next year
It’s important to keep these dates in your calendar. Missing a deadline can lead to penalties from the tax office.
Who must file Modelo 115?
You are required to file Modelo 115 if you are an autónomo or run a business and you:
- Rent a property or business premises for your professional activities.
- The rental contract requires you to withhold IRPF from the payments made to your landlord.
However, there are exceptions. You do not have to file this modelo if:
- The landlord is a public entity.
- The total annual rent you pay to the same landlord is less than €900.
- Your rental contract falls under a specific financial leasing arrangement.
Always check your rental agreement to confirm if withholding is required. If your invoice from the landlord includes an IRPF withholding (retención), you are obligated to file Modelo 115.
Common mistakes to avoid
Filing taxes can be tricky and small errors can cause big headaches. Here are a few common mistakes autónomos make with Modelo 115:
- Missing deadlines: Forgetting to file by the 20th of the month after the quarter ends is a frequent issue that leads to fines.
- Incorrect calculations: Double-check your withholding amounts. The tax base is the rent before IVA and the standard IRPF withholding rate is 19%.
- Forgetting the annual summary (Modelo 180): At the end of the year, you also need to file Modelo 180, which summarizes all the withholdings you declared on Modelo 115 throughout the year.
