SEPE certificates: income tax, amounts and status

What certificates does SEPE give you?

SEPE (Spain's public employment service) issues several certificates about your unemployment benefit. Each one proves something different, and you may need more than one.

• Certificate of current status: shows if you are still getting a benefit or subsidy, and since when.
• Certificate of amounts pending: shows money SEPE still owes you but has not paid yet.
• Certificate of amounts paid: shows the total benefit you received in a period, useful for banks, town halls or other paperwork.
• Certificate of IRPF withholdings: shows the tax (IRPF, Spain's income tax) that SEPE deducted from your benefit, needed for your annual tax return.

All of these are free. Nobody should ever ask you to pay for a SEPE certificate.

How to get your certificate online

The fastest way is through the sede electrónica (SEPE's online office). You do not need a cita previa (prior appointment) for this. You just need a digital ID to prove who you are.

1. Get a digital ID ready. You can use Cl@ve (a government login system), a digital certificate, or a DNIe (electronic ID card). If you do not have one yet, read our guide on the digital certificate and Cl@ve before you start.
2. Go to the sede electrónica. Open the SEPE certificates section and log in with your chosen digital ID.
3. Pick the certificate you need. Choose status, amounts pending, amounts paid, or IRPF withholdings, depending on what you need to prove.
4. Check your details. The system fills in your data automatically from SEPE's records. Check your name, ID number and dates are correct before you continue.
5. Download the PDF. The certificate is generated straight away, with no waiting time and no cost. Save it or print it as needed.

If you already claim benefit, you can also check what SEPE owes you or has paid through the same portal. See our guide on how to check your unemployment claim status for the full steps.

What if you do not have a digital ID?

Not everyone has Cl@ve, a digital certificate or a DNIe, especially if you have just arrived in Spain. In that case, you can still get your certificate, but you will need to go in person.

1. Book an appointment. Request a cita previa at your local SEPE office. This is free.
2. Bring your ID. Take your passport or NIE (foreigner ID number) card, plus any paperwork about your benefit claim.
3. Ask for the certificate at the desk. Staff will print or email it to you once they confirm your identity.

If getting a digital ID feels confusing, our guide on using SEPE without a digital certificate walks through every option step by step.

Common problems and how to fix them

Cl@ve login will not work

This usually means your Cl@ve registration has expired or was never finished. Go back to the Cl@ve website and check your registration status. If it is not active, you will need to register again, either online with a digital certificate or in person at a registration office.

Certificate shows the wrong dates

SEPE's records may be behind if you recently started, stopped or changed your benefit. Wait a few days and try again. If the dates are still wrong, contact SEPE through the sede electrónica or visit your local office to ask for a correction.

Amounts pending certificate is empty

An empty result usually means SEPE does not currently owe you any money, not that something is broken. If you believe you are owed a payment, check your claim status first, then contact SEPE if the figures still do not match what you expect.

PDF will not download

This is often a browser problem rather than a SEPE problem. Try a different browser, clear your cache, or disable pop-up blockers, since the certificate often opens in a new window or tab.

Need the certificate in English

SEPE certificates are only issued in Spanish. If an organisation abroad needs it translated, you will normally need to arrange an official translation yourself. SEPE does not provide translations.