Being autónomo
How Finlai works
Updated on September 1, 2026
Finlai is an online gestoría for freelancers (autónomos) in Spain that pairs software with real tax advisors: you issue invoices, connect your bank, upload expenses, the AI reads them and your advisor validates every movement before preparing and filing your tax forms with the AEAT. This page documents, capability by capability, how Finlai works under the hood.
How does Finlai issue Verifactu-compliant invoices?
Finlai issues your invoices from the app itself and, in Verifactu mode, every invoice is registered with the Spanish Tax Agency (AEAT) and carries its official QR code, verifiable at the AEAT site by anyone who receives it.
The flow: you create the invoice, preview it as a draft (watermarked, with no final number) and issue it when it is ready. On issue, Finlai assigns the series and number automatically, with no manual numbering and no gaps, renders the final PDF and, in Verifactu mode, registers the operation with its chained hash through a certified provider and stamps the QR at the size the regulation requires. Corrective invoices (rectificativas) get their own series and stay linked to the original invoice.
Not everything goes through Verifactu: Finlai also issues legal PDF invoices without registration (for example, invoices in a currency other than the euro, which Verifactu does not accept), and in that mode nothing is sent to the AEAT.
How does bank reconciliation work in Finlai?
Finlai reconciles your movements automatically: you connect your bank accounts, movements flow in on their own and get matched to their invoices and expenses, with no manual data entry. On top of that come the invoices you issue in the app, the documents you upload and anything you record by hand. Everything that comes in stays pending until your advisor reviews it: nothing counts as final without human validation.
| Input channel | What Finlai does |
|---|---|
| Connected bank accounts | Movements come in automatically and reconciliation matches them to their invoices and expenses |
| Invoices issued in the app | Create their income movement automatically on issue |
| Uploaded documents, one by one or in bulk | Automatic reading (OCR) extracts date, amount, VAT and counterparty; if something is missing, the document waits in the review inbox |
| Manual entry | You fill in the form with OCR assistance and the movement stays pending for your advisor |
Documents are never lost: if the automatic reading fails, the file stays in your inbox so you or your advisor can complete it. You can edit, approve or discard your own drafts before the advisor validates them.
You can also connect your email: invoices you receive through Gmail come in on their own as candidates, ready for review.
How does Finlai detect deductible expenses?
Finlai detects deductible expenses with a deduction engine that works on your movements: it flags possible deductions, proposes a category and tax treatment, and your advisor validates them with you before they are applied, based on your activity and your regime.
When the advisor has doubts about an expense (what it is for, whether it is tied to your activity), they ask you in the comment thread of the movement itself, and your answer stays recorded next to the document. Every deduction keeps its context and traceability, not just a percentage.
Finlai does not apply deductions blindly and does not promise generic percentages: real deductibility depends on your specific case (activity, VAT regime, degree of business use), and that decision always goes through your advisor.
How does Finlai calculate the VAT and IRPF forecast?
Finlai recalculates your VAT (modelo 303) and IRPF (modelo 130) forecast with every new movement: the taxes screen shows how much you have accrued in the quarter, the filing deadline and an estimate of the withholdings for modelos 111 and 115.
The calculation takes into account the VAT regime of each activity, including cases like the equivalence surcharge or the reverse charge, and updates instantly: there is no monthly close to wait for.
The forecast also includes movements that are still pending review, and tells you so: you see the full picture even if your advisor has not validated everything yet.
It is a guiding estimate to avoid surprises, not the final amount: your advisor prepares the definitive calculation when filing each form. It is designed for direct estimation (estimación directa); if you pay taxes under módulos, your advisor handles the calculation outside the automatic forecast.
How does Finlai show your data from the Spanish Tax Agency?
Finlai imports your real situation at the Spanish Tax Agency through an authorisation (apoderamiento) that you grant yourself with Cl@ve from the app: your census data (IAE headings, VAT and IRPF regimes and tax obligations) and the returns you have already filed appear in the fiscal history tab of the taxes screen.
The process: you scan a Cl@ve QR code inside Finlai and confirm the authorisation on your phone. The representation is verified independently, and the import downloads your filing receipts and the official PDF of every filed form. For modelos 100, 130 and 303 it also breaks down the boxes, and Finlai compares what you filed with your current forecast, quarter by quarter.
Finlai never receives your Cl@ve PIN, password or codes: the authorisation happens on your phone and Finlai only obtains the permission you approve.
This consultation authorisation is, in practice, a quality check of your history: Finlai reviews your past income tax returns and forms and confirms everything is correct before moving on. It is a different lever from filing (Finlai files as a registered collaborator, colaborador social, of the AEAT): Finlai makes no automatic payments and warns you when the imported history may be incomplete. If you prefer, you can skip this step and declare your details by hand.
How does Finlai file your Spanish tax forms?
Finlai prepares and files your tax forms with a real advisor: your advisor prepares the relevant draft (modelo 303, 130, 111, 115, 390, 349 or the annual income tax return), you review and approve it from the app, and Finlai files it with the AEAT as a registered collaborator (colaborador social). The official receipt (justificante) is stored with its real filing date.
If something does not add up, you can reject the draft with a note and your advisor corrects it before filing. The whole history stays organised by year and quarter, next to the PDF of each form.
Finlai does not file forms automatically or without human intervention: there is always an advisor responsible for your case. Close to the deadline, your advisor can file a form even if you have not gotten around to approving the draft, to spare you surcharges; the app shows it to you all the same.
Frequently asked questions
Official sources
Related guides
This guide is general information and does not constitute personalised tax advice. Always check the official sources or a professional before deciding.