A hairdresser rails against the Treasury over the tax burden on self-employed workers in Spain: "Paying what they're asking us to pay is a crime."

As of July 2025 , there are more than 3.4 million self-employed workers in Spain, according to the latest data published by the Ministry of Social Security. They make up an important part of our country's labor market and are essential to economic growth. Despite all this, many report feeling persecuted by the Treasury and overwhelmed by the amount of taxes they have to pay simply for working.

This is what Cristy, a young image consultant and hairstylist, complains about on her TikTok account. She claims that tax pressure is so high that "every three months I reconsider whether it's worth it to keep my salon open." Here, the professional is referring specifically to the Value Added Tax (VAT) payments she must file quarterly with the Tax Agency to provide resources to the State.

In Spain, VAT on hair salons has been a topic of debate in recent years, with industry professionals calling for a reduction , claiming it is "fundamental to the sector's survival."

Hairdressers currently pay a 21% VAT rate , a percentage they consider excessive given the importance of self-care services and which weighs on the businesses of more than 15,000 professionals across the country "and the local economy of thousands of communities," as stated in a statement issued earlier this year by the Alliance for the Reduction of VAT on Personal Image.

Cristy complains specifically about the public's bias against the self-employed: "People will say, well, of course, after the bills are issued, you'll have to pay." The problem is that she doesn't refuse to pay what she owes, but "paying what they ask of us is a crime and should stop now."

"They should reduce VAT because it's absolutely crazy. Everyone who owns a business knows this and knows what I'm talking about," he adds.

For several years now, people have been asking the government to lower VAT on hair salons, a demand that gained even more traction after the pandemic. The request is primarily motivated by the decline in sales the sector has experienced in recent years.

In fact, until 2012, VAT on hairdressing and personal care was 8%, rising to 21% during Mariano Rajoy's government, with Montoro as Minister of Finance. This led to a profound decline and the deterioration of the sector, whose professionals consider it an essential service, not a luxury.

For the moment, there are no indications that the government will reduce VAT on hair salons , so they will have to continue paying 21% even though the sector's survival is at stake.