According to data from the Union of Professionals and Self-Employed Workers, approximately 1.5 million freelancers in Spain receive payments via Bizum. Due to the great advantages of the service and its widespread acceptance as a way to pay—already used by 30 million people—more and more independent workers are deciding to implement this system in their operations.

In this guide, we will explain how Bizum for freelancers works and its requirements, so you can easily incorporate it into your business.

Key takeaways:

• Bizum’s solution for professionals allows freelancers to receive instant payments into their bank accounts.
  
• Bizum payments received by freelancers must be declared regardless of whether they exceed the former limit of €3,000 per year.
  
• In-person Bizum payments are handled using NFC, QR codes, and payment requests, while online payments are integrated into your website’s checkout.
  
• Bizum fees for freelancers are usually similar to or lower than those of card payments.
  

What is Bizum for freelancers?

Bizum is a payment method integrated into online banking apps that enables self-employed professionals to send and receive funds instantly and securely. Although Bizum was created in 2016 as a peer-to-peer (P2P) payment system, since 2019, it has also offered its services to freelancers.

How Bizum for freelancers works

One of the great upsides of the service—both in transfers between individuals and for companies—is its security and ease of use. Bizum allows you to make payments without sharing your card information or financial details: simply enter your phone number.

However, from a technical standpoint, the way transactions are processed varies depending on the purchase. Let’s look at the two most common cases among freelancers: accepting payments online and in person.

How Bizum works in online payments

For online transactions, the process is automatic for the freelancer and requires their intervention during the initial integration:

• The freelancer integrates Bizum and activates it to be displayed as a payment method in the checkout on their website.
  
• The ecommerce payment gateway asks the customer to enter their phone number, confirm the transaction details, and accept the notification shown by their online banking app on their mobile device.
  
• In just a few seconds, the funds are withdrawn from the customer’s bank account, the payment confirmation is displayed on the website, and the freelancer receives the amount.
  

How Bizum works for in-person payments

If transactions are made in person, there are three ways to accept payments with Bizum:

• Payment request: The freelancer manually generates a payment request from their app. Despite requiring human intervention for each payment, this system is widely used to process small payments due to its simplicity: the freelancer just has to enter the sale amount and the customer’s phone number. The customer then receives a notification on their mobile device to authorize the payment.
  
• QR code: The freelancer generates a QR code that the customer scans with their mobile device. In this case, the process closely resembles an online purchase, as the customer must approve the payment in their banking app.
  
• Compatible card readers: In this case, the freelancer must have a Bizum-compatible card reader. One of the options, introduced by BBVA in 2025, allows accepting payments after customers are identified via Bizum. In May 2026, a new method was announced that lets users accept NFC in-person payments with the service using its own digital wallet, Bizum Pay, or some online banking apps.
  

Does the Spanish Tax Agency allow freelancers to charge via Bizum?

Yes, the Spanish Tax Agency (AEAT) permits freelancers to receive payments via Bizum, provided they fulfill the current obligations:

• Issuing invoices: Just as with other payment methods, freelancers must issue an invoice for each payment received through Bizum.
  
• Declaring the income: Payments received through Bizum must be reflected in the accounting records and declared as income using the applicable tax forms, such as the quarterly value-added tax (VAT) return.
  

New AEAT controls on Bizum for freelancers

Order HAC/747/2025, which has been in force since 2026, requires banks to inform the AEAT each month of payments received by Spanish freelancers with Bizum. Previously, this was not required if the total amount of these transactions did not exceed €3,000 per year; but this order has eliminated that minimum.

The reports sent by financial institutions to the AEAT contain the following information:

• Tax identification number (NIF)
  
• Given name and surnames
  
• Bizum internal commerce number
  
• Point-of-sale (POS) terminal linked to the freelancer
  
• Number of transactions per month collected with Bizum
  
• Total amount of money collected per month with Bizum
  
• Bank account IBAN code
  

This information is reported using Form 170, which banks send to the AEAT every month. Furthermore, while Bizum systematically shares information with the Bank of Spain and the National Commission on Markets and Competition, these two entities do not receive all the details of Form 170: Bizum sends anonymous data to them for statistical purposes.

Other regulations applicable to Bizum for freelancers in Spain

In addition to these specific regulations, Bizum must comply with all checkout-option regulations in Spain, such as the anti-fraud law and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). In fact, in 2023, it had to pay an €80,000 fine imposed by the Spanish Data Protection Agency after a security incident that led to the leak of personal data.

Common mistakes when using Bizum for freelancers

The enactment of Royal Decree 253/2025 and other laws has generated doubts among freelancers regarding the use of Bizum. Before these regulatory changes, the AEAT oversight of the service was minimal, which could have led to it being perceived as an opaque payment method. Since it was usually used for small transactions between family and friends, the AEAT suspected the independent worker intended to hide income from their professional activity.

Currently, Bizum is subject to much stricter oversight by tax authorities, so it is key to comply with all the rules governing its use for business purposes. Since any mistake can lead to serious tax problems, this summary covers the most common errors among freelancers to help avoid penalties and further issues when using the service for independent work.

Use of a personal account for business purposes

Some freelancers receive funds related to their business activity through their personal Bizum account; that is, the one they use, say, to split the costs of a family dinner at a restaurant.

Using a personal account for business purposes is a mistake, since it makes it impossible to distinguish between business payments and payments between individuals, which are not subject to strict oversight by the AEAT. Therefore, all commercial activity carried out through Bizum for freelancers must be associated with a business bank account.

To avoid mixing your personal and business transactions, it is a good idea to get a basic secondary phone line (it will suffice if it can receive SMS and connect to the internet) and dedicate it exclusively to commercial use. Next, use that number to register for Bizum for freelancers and link it to your business bank account. This way, funds are always paid to the correct account. Personal Bizum transfers are deposited in the bank account associated with your main phone number, and business payments deposited in your business account linked to your secondary phone line.

Not declaring the income

With the entry into force of Order HAC/747/2025, some freelancers believed that banks were responsible for submitting all Bizum-related tax information to the AEAT. Still, financial institutions report the total amount of sales paid through the service each month.

The independent worker is solely responsible for accounting for each Bizum sale and for declaring all income for tax purposes.

Not including the descriptions

It is common for payments received by freelancers via Bizum to lack a description or have an ambiguous one, which can cause problems during an AEAT audit. Alongside issuing the invoice for the sale, it is advisable to ask the customer to include the invoice number as a description in the Bizum charge or, at the very least, to provide information that helps identify the activity. Clear descriptions improve tax transparency and help tax authorities review transactions more easily.

For example, a web designer receives funds by bank transfer for creating an online store in Spain. Later, they receive payment via Bizum for small recurring tasks, such as uploading new products to the ecommerce catalog. In that case, it is recommended that each payment made via Bizum be described as “Online store catalog update.”

Main advantages of Bizum for freelancers

Bizum’s strong growth among freelancers and other self-employed professionals is driven by its competitive advantages over alternative payment methods, especially in terms of security and speed. These are some of the factors that explain why a growing number of independent workers are accepting payments via Bizum:

• Security: Bizum for freelancers is integrated into the bank’s app, which means that the financial institution itself handles the authentication and instant transfers. Therefore, Bizum shares the same security standards as the online banking app into which it is linked.
  
• Increased conversion rate: Simplifying the checkout process with such an intuitive and practical payment method increases conversion. Stripe’s analysis of European checkout processes shows that 38% of customers in Spain prefer to pay via Bizum. Additionally, 86% of customers say they often abandon a purchase if their preferred payment method isn’t offered.
  
• Fewer declined payments: Using a phone number as identification lowers the chance of common errors associated with other methods (such as incorrect card details), which helps minimize declined payments.
  
• Enhanced brand image: Providing modern payment options strengthens the impression that the business is up-to-date, approachable, and in tune with today’s customer preferences.
  
• Simpler refunds: If a customer uses their right of withdrawal, processing the refund with Bizum is straightforward and allows the customer to get their money back instantly.
  
• Transaction speed: Bizum money transfers are settled in seconds, speeding up payment settlement.
  
• Improved cash management: The ability to transfer funds instantly allows for better cash flow planning and smooth compliance with tax obligations, such as quarterly VAT returns.
  

Bizum costs and fees for freelancers

While the service is a completely free service for individuals, Bizum for companies and freelancers might incur fees that vary by bank. For instance, Banco Sabadell charges a 0.4% fee per transaction, with a minimum of €0.15. By contrast, Banco Santander offers a plan that includes 50 no-fee Bizum transactions per month, making it a good payment option for small freelancers.

At the same time, since Bizum has its own low fees, accepting the service through a gateway rarely exceeds the cost of processing card charges.

Limitations of Bizum for freelancers

While the benefits of Bizum for businesses outweigh its operational limitations, freelancers need to assess the technical barriers associated with this way to pay. Let’s take a look at those limitations:

Maximum amount

Each financial institution sets the maximum amount that a customer can send per transaction. For instance, CaixaBank limits in-store Bizum payments to €1,500 per transaction, whereas if you accept Bizum payments from Stripe, the cap is increased to €5,000.

In short, if an order exceeds the bank or platform’s limit, the transaction will be rejected. For this reason, it is advisable to deactivate Bizum as a payment method during checkout for orders exceeding the established limit. This way, you will prevent customer payments from failing and optimize authorization rates.

Lack of advanced features

Over the years, Bizum and banks have added advanced features, such as the payment deferral offered by BBVA with Bizum. Still, it has certain shortcomings as a way to pay, including the inability to cancel a Bizum payment after it has been sent.

Use is limited to Spain and some European Union countries

Bizum’s operations are limited to Spain, Andorra, Italy, and Portugal, which could pose a barrier for freelancers who regularly work with intracommunity customers.

Regardless, the list is likely to expand in the near future: Bizum has signed a memorandum of understanding with several financial service providers to begin accepting payments in 2027 across ecommerce and physical stores in 13 European countries.

How to integrate Bizum for freelancers into your business step by step

The process for implementing Bizum for freelancers in your business is usually quite simple, though it varies depending on the integration option selected. These are the steps to follow for each integration method:

Integrating Bizum manually

First, two requirements apply:

• Have an account with a Spanish bank that offers the Bizum for freelancers service.
  
• Have a mobile phone number, which does not have to be a Spanish number.
  

After registering for Bizum for self-employed professionals with your bank, link the payment method into your payment gateway. The requirements for this step vary by financial institution, though it is usually necessary to download a specific module (typically from Redsys) and install it on the website. The exact setup steps will vary depending on the integration your bank uses, so it is important to have some technical skills and development support.

To ensure customers know from the outset that they can pay with Bizum, display the logo prominently on your online store.

It is also possible to implement Bizum for freelancers if you operate in face-to-face environments. The customer needs to send funds to the phone number associated with your business account. Or, if your bank permits it, you can generate a QR code to request the payment or acquire a compatible POS or card reader.

Integrating Bizum with Stripe Payments in one click

To receive funds via Bizum in your store, you can enable this method with just one click using Stripe Payments.

This modern payment platform lets you activate Bizum directly from your Dashboard, without installing any extra modules or contacting your bank. Stripe Payments offers a very simple solution: in just a few clicks, you can start accepting payments via Bizum, credit and debit cards, SEPA transfers, digital wallets, and other local payment methods.

If sales are made through social media, you can integrate Bizum into your profile with Payment Links, which allows you to share hosted checkout pages. For example, if you use social media as a lead-generation channel, you can create a Payment Links link so customers can pay for your products via Bizum. Hosted checkout pages make it straightforward to sell on Instagram without an online store.

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