From 1 January 2026, the Spanish Tax Agency will keep a much closer eye on Bizum payments.
The new monitoring rules will require banks to report more detailed information about how people use the app, particularly businesses and the self-employed.
January always brings changes, and the start of 2026 adds another to the list. Payments made through Bizum will come under tighter controls.
In simple terms, banks and payment providers will have to report every Bizum payment that autónomos, professionals, and companies receive. They will send reports every month rather than once a year.
One further change matters just as much. Banks will have to report all transactions, whatever the amount. Until now, they only included payments over €3,000. That threshold will disappear.
Tackling fraud
The aim is to tackle fraud. The Tax Agency cares less about one-off payments and focuses instead on patterns. Regular small payments can indicate ongoing activity that someone has not declared. These might include rent payments, private lessons, gym fees, consultations, or other recurring services. Small amounts can quickly add up.
To identify these patterns, banks will supply detailed data. They will share the recipient’s identity, the amounts received, and the type of payment. Banks will also report how often payments occur and the total yearly volume. The Tax Agency will then compare this information with declared income.
If the agency finds discrepancies, penalties may follow. Fines can range from 50% to 150% of the undeclared amount, plus interest.
Many people worry about how this affects private individuals. The answer is reassuring. These measures do not apply to personal users.
The Tax Agency has confirmed that it will only receive reports about recipients with non-private contracts. Normal Bizum payments between family and friends remain excluded. Paying for dinner, splitting the cost of a gift, or sending money to your children does not cause any issues.
What is Bizum?
Bizum is a Spanish mobile payment service linked directly to your bank account. It allows users to send and receive money instantly using just a mobile phone number.
Bizum is widely used in Spain to split bills, pay small amounts, and make quick transfers without needing cash or card details.
