How We Saved €150K in Taxes for 3 LATAM Families: Real Cases of Tax Optimization

Cristina Schuttmann
Aug 28
4 min read

After three weeks of theory, today we present real cases from our clients: three families from Mexico, Colombia, and Argentina who achieved a combined savings of €150K in just 2 years.

Executive Summary

López Family (Mexico): Investment €1.2M | Structure: Holding in Spain | Annual savings: €32K | Fiscal ROI: 2,667%
Rodríguez Company (Colombia): Investment €800K | Structure: SL + NHR | Annual savings: €28K | Fiscal ROI: 2,333%
Fernández Group (Argentina): Investment €2M | Structure: SOCIMI + Holding | Annual savings: €45K | Fiscal ROI: 3,750%

Case 1: López Family – Mexico → Madrid 🇲🇽

Client Profile

Textile entrepreneur from Guadalajara
Total wealth: €3M (of which €1.2M allocated to Europe)
Objective: Diversification + Golden Visa for the family
Timeline: 2022–2024

Initial Situation (without optimization):

Investment: 3 apartments in central Madrid
Structure: Individual ownership
Annual rents: €72,000
Spain taxes: €17,280 (24%)
Mexico taxes: €21,600 (30% global income)

Total tax: €38,880 per year (54%)

Optimization Implemented:

Creation of a Spanish Holding with 3 subsidiaries (Madrid Center, North, and South).
Applied benefits: Mexico–Spain treaty (0% double taxation), fiscal consolidation of the holding, building depreciation at 3% (€36K deductible), mortgage interest (€18K deductible), operating expenses (€12K deductible).

Results after optimization:

Gross rents: €72,000
Total deductions: €66,000
Taxable base: €6,000
Spain Corporate Tax (25%): €1,500
Mexico Tax: €0 (treaty applied)

Total tax: €1,500 annually (2.1%)
Annual savings: €37,380 (96% less tax)

Additional benefits: Golden Visa for the entire family, international diversification, protection against peso devaluation, scalable structure. Client quote: “Biznexus transformed our investment from a tax expense into a wealth machine. The €37K annual savings practically finance our Spanish lifestyle.”

Case 2: Rodríguez Company – Colombia → Lisbon 🇨🇴

Client Profile

Family holding in Bogotá (medical equipment import business)
Wealth: €2.5M, with €800K allocated to Portugal
Objective: Leverage NHR regime + business tax optimization

Initial Situation:

Investment: Villa in Lisbon + 2 apartments
Structure: Direct purchase from Colombia
Annual rents: €48,000
Portugal taxes: €13,440 (28%)
Colombia taxes: €18,720 (39%)
Double taxation: €8,160

Total tax: €40,320 annually (84%)

Optimization Implemented:

Phase 1: Strategic tax residency (main partner in Portugal under NHR, family in Colombia).
Phase 2: Corporate vehicle (Holding Colombia → SL Spain → Portugal properties).
NHR benefits: 20% flat tax for 10 years, foreign income exempt, capital gains exempt after 3 years, no inheritance tax for direct family.

Results after optimization:

Rents: €48,000
NHR (20%): €9,600
Colombia: €0 (treaty applied)

Total tax: €9,600 annually (20%)
Annual savings: €30,720 (76% less tax)

Strategic benefits: Golden Visa (€500K in hotel funds), NHR fixed at 20% for 10 years, diversification in euros, integrated succession planning.

Unexpected result: During the pandemic, peso devaluation vs euro generated an additional €67K currency gain, fully protecting family wealth.

Case 3: Fernández Group – Argentina → Madrid + Barcelona 🇦🇷

Client Profile

Family Office from Buenos Aires (agroindustry + real estate sectors)
Wealth: €8M, with €2M in Spain
Objective: Protect against hyperinflation and grow in Europe

Initial Situation:

Portfolio: 8 properties in Madrid and Barcelona
Structure: Argentine trust
Annual rents: €180,000
Spain taxes: €43,200 (24%)
Argentina taxes: €70,200 (39%)

Total tax: €113,400 annually (63%)

Optimization Implemented:

Sophisticated structure via SOCIMI in Spain with properties split between Madrid (€1.2M) and Barcelona (€800K).
Key elements: SOCIMI with 0% Corporate Tax (transparency regime), Argentina–Spain treaty (reduced rates), mandatory 80% dividend distribution, family diversification of shareholders.

Results after optimization:

Gross rents: €180,000
Operating costs: €45,000
SOCIMI profit: €135,000
Distribution: €108,000
Tax on reserves (19%): €5,130
Dividend withholding: €10,800 (10% treaty rate)
Argentina tax: €27,000 (25%, credit for €10,800 applied)

Total tax: €42,930 (24% effective)
Annual savings: €70,470 (62% less tax)

Hyperinflation impact: Structure protected €400K against currency loss during the 2023 crisis, equivalent to 5.7 years of additional tax savings.

Comparative Summary

Before optimization:

Total tax across 3 families: €192,600 annually
Average tax burden: 67%
Exposure to home-country risks: 100%

After optimization:

Total optimized taxes: €53,730 annually
Average tax burden: 15.2%
Combined savings: €138,870 annually
Average ROI of optimization: 2,778%

Key Success Factors

Comprehensive initial analysis (dual-country tax situations, family objectives, risk tolerance).
Timing of implementation:
- Cases 1 and 2: Pre-investment (optimal)
- Case 3: Restructuring (complex but successful)
- Lesson: It’s better to plan ahead than correct later.
Rigorous compliance (meeting obligations in both countries, AEOI/FATCA reporting, proactive updates, exhaustive documentation).
Active post-implementation management (continuous monitoring, annual optimizations, planning future operations, adapting to legal changes).

Additional Intangible Benefits

Asset protection: geographic diversification, strong currency exposure, stable legal and political system.
Family opportunities: EU residency, education, healthcare, international networking.
Future growth: scalable structures, access to European financing, easy integration of new jurisdictions.