All about the Municipal Register (Padrón). If you register, we all win
The Municipal Register also known as PADRÓN is the administrative record of all residents of a municipality. By registering in the Municipal Register, any person acquires the status of resident.
Registering with the municipality is essential for legal compliance and to access local services like healthcare and schools. It establishes your legal residency status, which is often required for official procedures like applying for residence permits, renewing visas, and getting a healthcare card. Registration also provides a way to prove your address for other services, such as opening a bank account or signing up for utilities.
For each
registered resident, the Council receives funding from the Spanish
Government through participation in State taxes, with population being one of the criteria for their calculation. Such income is used for services such as rubbish collection, street
lighting, maintenance of streets, roads, social assistance, security, civil
protection, etc.
In 2025, current transfers from the General State Administration to Benitatxell amounted to 1.220.000 €. representing a ratio of 251,49 € per inhabitant according to the number of residents currently registered.
Registering is a simple process and the information provided to the Register is strictly confidential. The Council's registration office (OAC) will answer any questions you may have and help you to register.
If you register, we all win
Officially, 4.851 inhabitants were registered in Benitatxell in 2024. Many residents, mostly foreigners, however are still unregistered for whatever reason. Let's show solidarity with our neighbours, let's register ourselves and help others to register. Complaining about the lack of services is not enough. Let's officially tell the City Council how many of us live here. Each of us can contribute to improving the financing our City Council receives from the State and the provision of services provided in our neighbourhood. If you know someone who has not yet registered, please remind them that we are counting on their support. Together we are stronger.
How to register?
- Residents who pay vehicle tax in the municipality can apply for free parking in Cala Moraig.
- Inclusion in the electoral roll by filling in this form.
- Apply for a school place in the public schools of Benitatxell
- Receive benefits from the social services of Benitatxell
- Apply for the registration of a vehicle.
- Apply for a SIP health card from the Public Health Service.
- Contract basic utility services such as electricity, telephone, water or gas.
- EU foreigners are not obliged to renew their census registration.
- Non-EU foreigners without a long-term residence permit must renew their census registration every 2 years from the date of registration in the Municipal Town Hall registration (Padrón) or from the date of the last renewal. If they do not do so, the Town Hall will remove them from the census.
Citizens of the European Union living in Spain can express their wish to vote in municipal elections in Spain at their local Town Hall, when registering in the municipal register (padron) or at a later date:
- in person at the Town Hall by filling in this form
- telematically, if you have a valid digital certificate or @Clave PIN
| Benitatxell's Population growth from 2000 to 2024 | |||
| Year | Men | Women | Total |
| 2024 | 2.408 | 2.443 | 4.851 |
| 2023 | 2.373 | 2.485 | 4.858 |
| 2022 | 2.283 | 2.404 | 4.687 |
| 2021 | 2.220 | 2.227 | 4.447 |
| 2020 | 2.200 | 2.252 | 4.452 |
| 2019 | 2.106 | 2.170 | 4.276 |
| 2018 | 2.039 | 2.091 | 4.130 |
| 2017 | 2.002 | 2.018 | 4.020 |
| 2016 | 2.051 | 2.053 | 4.104 |
| 2015 | 2.317 | 2.373 | 4.690 |
| 2014 | 2.312 | 2.347 | 4.659 |
| 2013 | 2.864 | 2.856 | 5.720 |
| 2012 | 2.858 | 2.840 | 5.698 |
| 2011 | 2.792 | 2.776 | 5.568 |
| 2010 | 2.751 | 2.737 | 5.488 |
| 2009 | 2.723 | 2.676 | 5.399 |
| 2008 | 2.635 | 2.581 | 5.216 |
| 2007 | 2.440 | 2.333 | 4.773 |
| 2006 | 2.181 | 2.095 | 4.276 |
| 2005 | 1.948 | 1.860 | 3.808 |
| 2004 | 1.755 | 1.670 | 3.425 |
| 2003 | 1.693 | 1.623 | 3.316 |
| 2002 | 1.510 | 1.422 | 2.932 |
| 2001 | 1.321 | 1.232 | 2.553 |
| 2000 | 1.178 | 1.134 | 2.312 |
I would like to take this opportunity to explain the difference between being registered and having tax residence in Spain:
ReplyDeleteDetailed information can be found at this link from the Tax Agency:
https://sede.agenciatributaria.gob.es/Sede/en_gb/no-residentes/residencia-personas-fisicas-juridicas/persona-fisica-residente-espana.html
1. Simple registration in Spain does not in itself imply tax residence in Spain.
2. Tax residence is a matter of fact that must be proven, as the tax authorities equate tax domicile with habitual residence. This would entail the obligation to pay tax in Spain on all income earned, not only in Spanish territory, but worldwide. This scenario is known as being subject to personal liability tax. This means that, if the citizen has his/her tax residence in another country, where She/He habitually lives and/or where She/He obtains most of his/her income, She/He will only be obliged to pay tax in Spain on the assets and rights he has there. In this case, he/she would be subject to real obligation.
3. A natural person is understood to be habitually resident in Spain when any of the following circumstances apply:
3.1 Staying in Spain for more than 183 days during the calendar year.
3.2 The main core or base of its activities or economic interests is directly or indirectly located in Spain.
3.3 Double taxation and double residence treaties
The double taxation treaties generally provide for the following criteria to avoid a person being considered a resident of both States:
3.3.1 She/He shall be a resident of the State where he has a permanent home at his disposal.
3.3.2 If She/He has a permanent home at his disposal in both States, She/He shall be deemed to be a resident of the State with which She/He has the closest personal and economic relations (centre of vital interests).
3.3.3 If this cannot be determined, She/He shall be deemed to be a resident of the State where he habitually lives.
3.3.4 If She/He habitually lives in both States or in neither of them, She/He shall be deemed to be a resident of the State of which She/He is a national.
3.3.5 If, finally, She/He is a national of both States, or of neither of them, the competent authorities shall settle the case by common agreement.