Best Savings & Investments for the Self-Employed in 2026 2026

The self-employed have specific financial needs: liquidity to cover quarterly VAT and income tax payments, a cushion for low-income periods, and the ability to earn yield on accumulated savings. The most suitable products combine good returns with fast access to funds.

Products compared

8.25%

Best APY available

5.02%

Average APY

#	Entity	Product	APY	Score	Risk	Liquidity	View
1	CETES	CETES 364 dias	8.25%	7.1	Low	—	View →
2	CETES	CETES 182 dias	8.10%	7.0	Low	—	View →
3	CETES	CETES 91 dias	8.00%	7.0	Low	—	View →
4	CETES	CETES 28 dias	7.75%	7.0	Low	—	View →
5	ING Australia	ING — Savings Maximiser (AU)	5.50%	7.7	Low	Instant	View →
6	ANZ	ANZ Plus — Save (AU)	5.10%	7.7	Low	Instant	View →
7	Ibercaja	Cuenta Vamos	5.09%	7.7	Low	Instant	View →
8	UK Debt Management Office	UK Gilt 10 años	4.58%	6.8	Low	Market hours	View →
9	New Zealand Debt Management Office	Nueva Zelanda Government Bond 10 años	4.47%	6.8	Low	Market hours	View →
10	Norges Bank	Noruega Treasury Bill 3 meses	4.38%	6.7	Low	Market hours	View →
11	Australian Office of Financial Management	Australia Government Bond 10 años	4.37%	6.7	Low	Market hours	View →
12	US Department of the Treasury	US Treasury Bond 10 años	4.29%	6.7	Low	Market hours	View →
13	US Department of the Treasury	US Treasury Bill 3 meses	4.17%	6.7	Low	Market hours	View →
14	UK Debt Management Office	UK Treasury Bill 3 meses	4.13%	6.7	Low	Market hours	View →
15	Norges Bank	Noruega Government Bond 10 años	3.95%	6.7	Low	Market hours	View →
16	Australian Office of Financial Management	Australia Treasury Bill 3 meses	3.83%	6.7	Low	Market hours	View →
17	Marcus by Goldman Sachs	Marcus — Easy Access Savings (UK)	3.75%	7.5	Low	Instant	View →
18	Monzo	Monzo — Instant Access Savings Pot (UK)	3.65%	7.5	Low	Instant	View →
19	Ministero dell'Economia (Italia)	BTP 10 años	3.59%	6.6	Low	Market hours	View →
20	Agencia Financiera Federal (Alemania)	Bund 30 años	3.54%	6.4	Low	Vencimiento	View →

Want to filter by term, currency or guarantee?
Use the full comparator with all available filters.

Open comparator →

Best savings options for self-employed workers in Spain in 2026

The self-employed have a special relationship with savings: income is variable, you must provision for quarterly taxes, and retirement is not as guaranteed as for employees. Choosing the right place to keep your money can make a significant difference in both returns and tax efficiency.

The specific financial needs of the self-employed

A self-employed worker needs three well-differentiated types of liquidity:

Operational liquidity — for business expenses, wages, and suppliers. Must always be available.
Tax provision — quarterly IRPF (advance payments), quarterly VAT, and self-employed social security. Approximately 30–35% of net income depending on the marginal rate.
Long-term savings — retirement and wealth buffer, as the public pension for self-employed workers tends to be lower than for employees.

Best products for tax provisions

Money reserved for taxes shouldn't sit in a zero-yield current account. With 3-month intervals between settlements, short-term deposits or savings accounts are ideal:

3-month deposits — deposit in January, matures in April just before the quarterly payment.
Savings account — maximum flexibility, withdraw at any time. Ideal for VAT and income tax provisions.
Money market funds — liquidity in 1–2 business days, return close to €STR. No capital risk.

Tax-advantaged savings vehicles for the self-employed

Individual Pension Plan — deduction of up to €1,500 per year from the IRPF taxable base. Limited but guaranteed.
Simplified Employment Pension Plan for Self-Employed (since 2023) — allows up to an additional €4,250 in deductible contributions. Total possible: €5,750/year.
PIAS (Systematic Individual Savings Plan) — if held for over 10 years, returns are taxed at just 0–14% as a life annuity.
Unit-Linked Savings Insurance — investment flexibility with potentially better tax efficiency than direct fund investment in some cases.

Recommended strategy for the self-employed

Split your income into three mental "envelopes" from day one: 30% for taxes (goes to a separate savings account), 20% for savings (pension plan + long-term investment), and the remaining 50% for expenses. This discipline avoids end-of-quarter tax surprises.

Yield comparison for self-employed money

Check our full comparator for real-time yields across different time horizons. For the 3-month tax provision window, the best savings accounts currently exceed 2.50%. For 12-month savings, the best deposits reach 3.00%.

APY Radar — weekly yield alerts

Receive an email when a product exceeds your target APY. No ads, no spam — just data.

Frequently asked questions

Which product is best for a freelancer's tax reserve?

For money set aside for quarterly VAT and income tax payments, a remunerated savings account or money market fund — both with daily liquidity — is ideal. The money earns yield while awaiting the payment due date, without losing access.

Can self-employed people invest in fixed-term deposits?

Yes, but only with money they are certain not to need before maturity. A good strategy is to combine: a remunerated account for working capital + deposits for longer-term savings.

How is interest income taxed for the self-employed?

The same as for any taxpayer: interest from deposits and savings accounts is taxed as capital income in the IRPF savings base (19–23%). It is not treated as business income, so it does not affect your direct-estimate tax module.

How much emergency fund does a freelancer need?

Between 6 and 12 months of fixed costs (social security contribution, premises rent, utilities), plus the reserve for the next quarterly tax payment. That money should always be held in liquid products.