Managing payroll in Spain is already complex for local companies: changing labor laws, collective bargaining agreements, Social Security, and tax withholdings are just some of the factors that require constant updates.
But for multinationals without a payroll team or a local bank account in Spain, there’s an additional — and often less visible — challenge: executing the payments.
1️ Why are payments such a headache?
When an international company expands into Spain, it often assumes that paying salaries is as simple as making a transfer from its home country. However, the reality is very different.
The need for local bank accounts
- Ordinary payments to Social Security (Seguridad Social) and the Tax Agency (Agencia Tributaria) can only be made through approved collaborating banks (official source).
- Many foreign banks are not authorized, making it impossible to direct debit taxes and social contributions.
Without a local account, even a correctly calculated payroll cannot be successfully executed.
If you’d like to learn how to adapt to Spanish legal requirements, we recommend this article:
👉 Employer of Record (EOR) in Spain: how to operate without a local entity
2️ Limitations of non-European banks
Companies operating with banks from the United States or Asia often face additional barriers:
- Institutions like Bank of America, Wells Fargo, or Asian banks without a European branch depend on correspondent banks, resulting in extra fees, delays, and less control over transactions.
- Even large international banks don’t always support SEPA XML files (standard 34.14), which are essential for payroll processing in Spain (SEPA documentation).
In other words: you can calculate payroll anywhere, but you can’t pay it efficiently without the right infrastructure.
3️ Additional costs and risks
Making payments via SWIFT transfers can be more problematic than it seems:
- Delays of several days before employees receive their funds.
- Hidden intermediary bank fees.
- Risk of violating the legal obligation to pay salaries on time (Spanish Workers’ Statute, Art. 29).
- Possible payment blocks due to KYC/AML (Know Your Customer / Anti-Money Laundering) controls.
For HR and finance teams, this translates into operational uncertainty and reputational risk.
4️ Countries with the most friction
Some regions face greater challenges when executing payroll in Spain:
- United States: Only banks with a strong European presence (like J.P. Morgan or Citi) can operate smoothly; others rely on correspondents.
- Asia: Banks such as HSBC or MUFG are generally integrated, while domestic Chinese banks (e.g., ICBC) face more blocks and regulatory requirements.
These frictions make payroll payment execution one of the most underestimated challenges in global HR management.
The solution: a specialized local payroll partner
The most efficient way to remove these barriers is to rely on a global payroll provider with local payment capabilities.
Companies like ROSCLAR offer integrated payroll and payment management services — such as their Money Movement Service — enabling multinationals to pay salaries in Spain without needing a local bank account.
This ensures:
- Full compliance with Spanish labor and tax authorities.
- Secure, on-time payments to employees.
- Reduced operational complexity and greater payroll traceability.
In international payroll management, the greatest risk isn’t always in calculating salaries — but in how they’re paid.
For multinationals operating in Spain, having the right banking infrastructure or a specialized local payroll partner isn’t optional — it’s the only way to guarantee compliance, efficiency, and peace of mind.
At ROSCLAR, we help global companies simplify payroll payments in Spain, combining local expertise, technology, and practical experience to ensure a secure, smooth, and frictionless process.
We work with 800+ clients across 45+ countries, managing over 18,000 payrolls.
Our Money Movement Service is an integral part of our in-country offering, enabling companies to execute local payroll payments — without banking complications.
“Thanks to ROSCLAR, our payroll payments in Spain via the Money Movement Service are reliable and free from the banking delays we used to experience.”
If you’re already convinced — or simply want to learn more — our team will be happy to help, no strings attached.