QuarterlyModelo 130 · IRPF

Modelo 130 · everything you need to know.

Your quarterly IRPF instalment. You file it four times a year and once you understand it, it stops being a mystery. Real examples below.

Frequency
Quarterly
Q1 · Q2 · Q3 · Q4
Standard rate
20%
on net profit
Q2 2026 window
Jul 20
Jul 1 — 20
Payment?
Yes
per quarter · may be 0
§ 01 · The basics

What is the Modelo 130?

A quarterly filing where you pay part of your annual IRPF in advance. Instead of waiting until June of the following year, you spread payments throughout the year.

Think of it as a quarterly subscription to your IRPF — the tax authority prefers many small payments to one big bite.

§ 02 · Who it applies to

Who has to file it?

Filed by freelancers under direct estimation (normal or simplified). There's one important exception.

70%
The 70% rule
If more than 70% of your prior-year income had IRPF withholding, you're exempt from filing the 130 the following year. The withholdings already cover it.

When does the 70% rule apply?

  • Only invoice businesses that withhold 15%probably exempt
  • Mix of clients with and without withholdingcompute the 70% threshold
  • First year of activitycheck quarter by quarter

In your first year as a freelancer there's no prior year to compare against — you need to check each quarter whether more than 70% of your income carries withholding.

§ 03 · The calculation

How much do you pay?

The formula is:

(Income YTD − Deductible expenses YTD)×20%
Withholdings YTDPrior 130 payments
20% is the standard rate · YTD means year-to-date from January — each quarter you account for everything in the year up to that date.

Example · Q2 2026

Accumulated income (Jan – Jun)20.000,00 €
Accumulated deductible expenses−3.000,00 €
Accumulated net profit17.000,00 €
× 20% = Accumulated IRPF3.400,00 €
− Withholdings received−600,00 €
− Q1 payment already made−800,00 €
Due in Q22.000,00 €

If the result is negative (you overpaid previously), there's no refund — it's settled in the annual Renta return in June.

§ 04 · Starter perks

Three starter benefits

The tax authority knows the first years are tough. Three measures reduce what you pay:

01
Reduced 7% withholding

Instead of the standard 15%, you can invoice with 7% withholding during your first year and the two following years. Clients withhold less → more cash flow.

Add to your invoices: "IRPF withholding: 7% (reduced rate for professionals in their first 2 years of activity)"
02
20% reduction on net profit

In the first year you have positive profit, and the next, you can reduce your base by an extra 20% (up to €100,000). Applies directly to the 130 and your annual Renta.

Net profit15.000,00 €
− Starter 20% reduction−3.000,00 €
Adjusted base12.000,00 €
× 20% = IRPF due2.400,00 €
Without the reduction you would have paid €3,000. You save €600 in that quarter alone.
Requirement: no business activity the previous year. Enable in Settings.
03
Low-income reduction · up to €100/quarter

If your prior-year income was low, you can deduct up to €100 from each quarterly instalment.

§ 05 · When

When do you file?

Q1
Jan – Mar
Apr 1 – 20
Q2
Apr – Jun
Jul 1 – 20
Q3
Jul – Sep
Oct 1 – 20
Q4
Oct – Dec
Jan 1 – 30· following year

If the 20th (or 30th in Q4) falls on a weekend or national holiday, the window extends to the next business day.

§ 06 · In the app

In Autónomo Simple

Dashboard

Watch the quarter's estimate update in real time as you record invoices.

Guided Modelo 130

Box by box with the explanation for each value. Go to Taxes → Modelo 130.

Settings

Adjust your IRPF rate if you use the reduced 7% or enable the 20% reduction.

§ 07 · FAQ

The most common questions

Is it quarterly or monthly?
Quarterly. Four times a year: April, July, October and January.
What if I earn nothing in a quarter?
You file it anyway with a €0 result. It's called a zero filing. Many freelancers forget and get penalised.
Is 20% fixed or can I change it?
It's the standard rate. In your first year you can use 15% (reduced) or even less with the starter reduction. Adjust it in the app's Settings.
Which expenses can I deduct?
All recorded deductible expenses: RETA quota, utilities, office supplies, training, software, work travel, etc. More deductions = lower base = lower payment.
If I pay the 130, do I also pay in the Renta?
Not exactly. The 130 is an advance. In the annual Renta (June) the final calculation happens: if you overpaid → refund; if you underpaid → you pay the difference.
When you're ready
File Modelo 130 at AEAT