As little as twenty years ago, tax evasion was a way of life in Spain and almost encouraged. Not any more! During the last decade, Spanish taxes have increased dramatically, particularly income tax. Although overall taxation remains reasonably low and is still less than the EU average, the gap is closing fast.

Welcome to a new adventure in Andalusia! Moving your furniture and household goods to Andalusia, Spain, can be a seamless experience with proper planning. Begin by researching international moving companies experienced in Spanish relocations.

Whether you are moving across the street or to the other side of Andalucia, good organization and planning will take a lot of stress out of the process. Take some time to sit down and think through the things you'll need to do ahead of time; a little time spent now will save you a lot later. Once you have the move date you can put your plans into action.

If you are coming from overseas, there are a few special considerations you should keep in mind. Even if you are coming from a country that speaks Spanish (or you speak Spanish), there will be a multitude of changes for you to assimilate in the beginning, and anything you can do to lessen that will help you adapt more quickly.

When a Non-EU National takes up residence in Spain they may import their household possessions free of customs duty. This is a once only concession. It is not dependent on the purchase of property.

All major brands of electrical good are available in Spain so it is not actually necessary to import anything. The electricity Supply is 220 Volt and 50 cycles with a standard European two or three pin plug. All your other electrical goods should work fine, just change the plugs (preferable) or buy adapters available locally.

If you are moving as a family, the area where you decide to live will have a big impact upon your lifestyle, so there are a few things you should think about before you begin to look at houses. If you choose to live in the centre of the town or city you have chosen, which is a common choice in Andalucia, you will have access to all the shops and services you should need, many within walking distance, and others by taking public transport.

Following are some basic considerations you should keep in mind when shopping for a family neighbourhood in Andalucia. The area where you decide to live will have a big impact upon your lifestyle, so there are a few things you should think about before you even begin to look at houses.

Traditionally, in Spain the birthday was not celebrated; rather, it was the "santo", or saint´s day, that was the day one celebrated becoming a year older. These celebrations were minimal compared to what they have become in recent years.

You can save money on education at all stages in Andalucia - even for adults and third-age students. Beginning with nursery, it is not hard to find municipally-subsidised care that might cost less than 100 euros per month - slightly more if your child stays for meals. Pre-school (Infantil) is now offered free of charge in most municipalities, and takes place on primary school campuses.

Originally known as 100 peseta stores in pre-euro times, these offer a wide range of goods, from clothes and shoes to pet equipment, kitchen goods, stationery, DIY and fashion accessories. Often Chinese-owned these days, many of their goods are of dubious quality, although you can find great bargains - basic household chemicals and cleaning products.

To register a complaint against a bank or other financial entity in Spain, the process is as follows. The first thing you must do is to register a written complaint with the customer service department (servicio al cliente) of the institution in question. Be sure that you leave one copy with the company and have another stamped with the date received. In the case that your complaint is not resolved to your satisfaction, you will need this documentation later.

Any national taking up residence in Spain will be exempt from Import Duties. Importing is simple however the re-registraton process is very complicated.

Puerto Deportivo el Rompido: Of tourist interest, especially if you like nature and marshes. Things to see: Nature parks. Visit Monte de Cartaya and the Ruta de los Pantanos.

The "padrón" is a municipal list of residents. A "certificado de empadronamiento" refers to a certificate the town hall will give you on request to demonstrate that you are registered on the padron. The process to register is simple and does not require that you have your residency papers in order. It is free and does not incur any additional taxes.

It can be quite a culture shock to up sticks and live abroad. Many people decide to settle in Andalucia, after many years of spending pleasant vacations in this beautiful part of Spain. However, if you have been used to hotels, rented accommodation or perhaps staying with friends and family.

Every year Andalucía welcomes thousands of tourists, business people and new residents from other countries. Although many have a good understanding of the Spanish language, at one time or another they will usually all need the services of either a translator, who converts the written word of one language into another, or an interpreter who does the same with the spoken word.

Every year Andalucía welcomes thousands of tourists, business people and new residents from other countries. Although many have a good understanding of the Spanish language, at one time or another they will usually all need the services of either a translator, who converts written texts from one language into another, or an interpreter who does the same with the spoken word.

Barbate Marina, located in the  town of Barbate in Cádiz, Spain. This well-equipped marina offers modern facilities, including mooring for over 300 boats, refuelling services, and a repair dock.

(Puerto Deportivo Almerimar) The port is within a magnificent tourist complex with golf, riding and tennis. Things to see: Visit El Ejido Roman remains and horticulture. Beaches and natural reserve.