Remote.com EOR vs. Remote.com contractor: which are you?
Remote.com offers two distinct products that are frequently confused:
- Remote.com EOR (Employer of Record): You are an employee. Remote.com is your legal employer — it runs payroll, provides benefits, and handles employment compliance on behalf of the client company you actually work for. Your employment contract names Remote.com (or its local entity) as your employer.
- Remote.com contractor payments: You are an independent contractor. Remote.com processes your invoices and payments, but you are self-employed. For the Spain DNV, you file as a freelancer — see the 1099 contractor guide.
If your contract names Remote.com (or "Remote Technology" plus a country entity) as your employer, or if you receive payslips from Remote.com rather than the client company directly, you are under the EOR arrangement and this guide applies.
The Remote.com-specific documentation challenge
All EOR arrangements require two-level documentation — from the legal employer and from the client company that actually directs your work. Remote.com adds one more layer of complexity: Remote.com operates a registered Spanish entity (Remote Technology Spain SL) that employs staff in Spain as part of its EOR services business.
When the Spanish consulate or UGE sees "employer = Remote.com" in your file, they may ask: "Is this employee working for Remote's Spanish entity?" Because Remote Technology Spain SL exists and employs people in Spain, the question is not hypothetical — it must be addressed directly in your documentation.
The answer is factual and documentable: if you were hired to work for a client company (say, a U.S. tech startup), you are not working for Remote's Spanish operations — you are working for the client. But that distinction must be stated explicitly and confirmed in writing, not assumed.
The two-letter solution
I use a two-letter structure for Remote.com EOR cases that addresses both the legal employer and the actual work relationship — and specifically addresses the Spanish entity question:
Letter 1: From the client company
The client company — the business that actually directs your daily work — confirms:
- Your role, responsibilities, and the nature of the work you perform for them
- That your work is performed fully remotely and you are authorized to perform it from Spain
- That the client company has no registered entity, subsidiary, or operations in Spain that your role is associated with
- The compensation arrangement (or confirmation it flows through Remote.com's payroll)
- That the working relationship has existed for at least 3 months
Letter 2: From Remote.com (EOR confirmation)
A supporting letter from Remote.com's HR or legal team confirming:
- That you are employed by Remote.com EOR on behalf of [client company name]
- That your salary is [amount], paid by Remote.com on behalf of the client company
- That Remote.com's role is payroll administration and employment compliance — the work itself is performed for and directed by the client company
- That your employment is not associated with Remote Technology Spain SL or any of Remote's Spanish operations — you are employed through Remote's EOR service on behalf of [client company], which is not a Spanish entity
- That your employment is authorized to be performed remotely from Spain
The italicized point above is the Remote.com-specific language that distinguishes this from a standard EOR letter. I draft the template; your HR contact submits it to Remote.com's customer success or legal team for review and signature. Remote.com's support teams handle immigration documentation requests, though response times vary — plan for 1–2 weeks.
How your salary is taxed under Beckham
You may read online that a salary from a non-Spanish employer is "foreign-source" and therefore untaxed in Spain under Beckham. That is wrong for employment income. Under the regime (Art. 93.2.b LIRPF) all of your employment income is deemed Spanish-source and taxed here at a flat 24% (up to €600,000) — it makes no difference that Remote.com or the underlying client sits outside Spain. Your salary is taxed in Spain at 24%, not exempt.
What the regime does leave outside Spanish tax is your foreign non-employment income — foreign dividends, interest, and capital gains. That is the genuine Beckham benefit, alongside the flat 24% on your salary instead of the progressive scale up to 47%.
So budget on the 24% flat rate on your Remote.com salary. Use the Beckham calculator for planning.
The Certificate of Coverage (Social Security)
The SSA Certificate of Coverage proves you remain in the U.S. Social Security system while in Spain, under the U.S.-Spain totalization agreement. For Remote.com EOR employees, the certificate request must name Remote.com as the employer of record — because that is who files your payroll taxes.
This request goes through the SSA and takes approximately 10–14 weeks. Start it as early as possible — it is the longest lead-time item in your DNV application. Full Certificate of Coverage guide →
What changes vs. a standard W-2 case
The Remote.com-specific additions to your application are:
- The two-letter structure (client company + Remote.com EOR confirmation)
- Explicit language in the Remote.com letter distinguishing your role from Remote Technology Spain SL
- Careful income classification review — particularly if your income threshold is close to the limit
Everything else is standard: the income threshold (~€2,849/month for a solo applicant), FBI background check with federal apostille, qualifying Spanish health insurance, and the filing process remain unchanged.
Timeline for Remote.com EOR applicants
- Month 0: Confirm eligibility, notify client company and Remote.com HR of your intention, start the SSA Certificate of Coverage request
- Month 1: Order the FBI background check; I draft both letters (client company + Remote.com); secure Spanish health insurance quote
- Month 2: Apostilles, sworn translations, income documentation assembled (pay stubs, Remote.com payslips, income in EUR calculation)
- Month 3: Certificate of Coverage arrives; you fly to Spain; I file with UGE for the 3-year TIE