British expats are being terrorised by corrupt Spanish tax collectors and fearing financial ruin

[John M]

British expats are being terrorised by corrupt Spanish tax collectors and fearing financial ruin - even suffering heart attacks - as officials use rigged system to fleece unsuspecting foreigners, lawyer warns​

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...ce-unsuspecting-foreigners-lawyer-warns.html#

 

[HardRJones]

First, Daily Mail.

Second, I love Spain but I’d never live there for tax reasons.‌

Third, this is a risk anywhere. Just because things are written a certain way on‍ paper or just because you are being left alone for now, doesn’t mean that cannot⁠ change quickly.

Fourth, the only defense is geographic/geopolitical diversification.

Nothing surprising in those four points⁤ to anyone here.

 

[fc70]

I was seriously thinking of buying a cheap village house in Spain to live part‌ of the year but after and research I understood that sooner or later the tax‍ man will ask me to prove I'm NOT a tax resident of Spain. Even buying⁠ a car in Spain can cause the tax man to starting asking questions. AVOID Spain.⁤

 

[hlepic211]

It's fine if you have solid tax residence elsewhere with proof. But only as a‌ holiday home from August to November or from March to June, well depends on the‍ area maybe. I like Andorra way more (not a beach & beer fan). It's more⁠ organized, less headaches when dealing with locals.

If you plan to live in Spain long⁤ term - it's possible. Just stay under the radar. Marbella and closest cities are good⁣ because there's a lot of expats. They spend a lot so I assume most of⁢ them are left alone for that reason.

 

[Cetme308win]

It's not just the expats but we⁠ also the local ones are suffering this as well.
As a fellow libertarian, I think⁤ that all governments are just the most powerful mafia that runs a place, but in⁣ other countries they try to hide their real nature. But here in Spain they just⁢ don't care and acts like real mobsters..... Not just the tax agency but even the︀ police

 

[KJK]

Moving from the UK to Spain is out of the frying pan, into the fire.‌

The weather may be better and women better looking but I can think of 20+‍ better countries to do anything in (business, retirement, digital nomad...) than Spain.

 

[JimBeam]

It's hard to beat lifestyle Spain has to offer.
I guess that⁠ places like Vietnam. Philippines, Malaysia or Cambodia are good but it's on the other part⁤ of the Globe!
For British folks Spain is the heaven next door with nice weather,⁣ affordable housing and cheap food and drinks.

I would like the list of these 20⁢ countries though.

 

[FixieHartmann]

Same!

 

[lacomaco]

Indeed it is the DailyMail - conveniently forgetting some rules to use the system, such‌ as: they have to be employed by a qualified company (pensioners will not qualify), they‍ have to do at least 85% of the work while physically in Spain and many⁠ others.

On the other hand one important aspect of the peculiar way how Spanish tax⁤ auditors work: they get their bonus after the first resolution is ready, irrespective if the⁣ Hacienda wins or loses...

 

[John Spectre]

not a big difference from any other Med country in EU 😀

 

[Alonzo]

Classic Hacienda...

 

[PassinBy]

I've known people in Spain to simply save in cash out of fear the tax‌ authorities will debit their bank accounts. Not that they mind paying what they owe, they‍ just don't want to go bankrupt if someone gets greedy.