The European Commission has a new diagnosis on taxation that points to the highest incomes and large fortunes. According to a study published by the Community executive, over the last thirty years there has been a concentration of wealth in the most affluent segments of the population in the European Union, making it necessary to rethink the taxes levied on wealth, inheritance, and capital income in the EU to reverse this trend.

If the predictions had been correct, since 2022 there would not be a single millionaire left in Norway. In 2021, the Labour Party (centre-left) of the current prime minister, Jonas Gahr Store, won the parliamentary elections and entered into a coalition government with the Centre Party. The new executive approved a reform of the formuesskatt, the wealth tax, which increased what the country's richest taxpayers pay.

Spain was one of the seven countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD, the think tank of the world's most developed economies) where last year the rise in taxes on wages far outstripped the increase in salaries, resulting in a loss of real income. The calculation, however, does not take into account the value of the public services citizens receive, which are funded by taxes.

For a few days now, the opposition's offensive has consisted of talking about the existence of a fiscal hell. The PP, which insists on the need to lower taxes, has recently been using the concept frequently. And it is an expression that the president of Foment del Treball, Josep Sánchez Llibre, who will run again for a third term in the elections he has called for May 18, made known during the presentation of the Green Paper on taxation in Catalonia in 2024. He himself considers it "apt" and says it is currently enduring.

Fiscal hell is a concept that has been gaining ground on the right of parliamentary arcs. It was popularized by the president of Foment del Treball, Josep Sánchez Llibre, and has now been adopted as their own by parties ranging from the PP to Junts, including the far-right Vox and Aliança Catalana. It doesn't take much imagination to conclude that it is a frontal criticism of the current tax model in both Catalonia and the State. Now it is the turn of Carles Puigdemont's party, which in this week's plenary session in the Parlament has obsessively proposed to attack the taxation maintained by the Generalitat with a double initiative: to deflate personal income tax (IRPF) (to eliminate inflation from the Government's revenue) and to subsidize the inheritance and gift tax. Junts knows it will lose the vote (it will probably only have the PP, Vox, and Aliança on its side), but it intends for it to be the start of a cultural battle against the left.

In Canberra, the rumor is that this year's budget –which must be presented in May– is the most important of the century. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has gone in three months from boasting about banning social media for under-16s to giving a televised speech about an economic shock that “will be with us for months.” The war of the United States and Israel against Iran has caused, according to Goldman & Sachs, “the largest energy supply disruption in history.” “We have seen the destruction of gas wells in Qatar and Iran,” emphasizes Tony Wood, Energy researcher at the Grattan Institute, “if the conflict stops tomorrow, it will still take a long time for this infrastructure to be repaired.

The General Council of Economists, the body that groups the colleges of economists of the State, proposes that the Spanish government adjust its income tax bracket (IRPF) to the salary increases of recent years. According to the entity's calculations, a Catalan worker with a gross annual salary of 25,000 euros would save about 252 euros annually, while for higher salaries, such as 400,000 euros, the savings would exceed 2,100 euros annually.

Only in two of the last twenty years – in 2008, under the government of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero (PSOE), and in 2015, under Mariano Rajoy (PP), which was actually a tax reform –, the Treasury has deflated the income tax (IRPF) rate, which means adjusting it to inflation to prevent paying more tax despite having the same or lower real income. And the last two times similar measures were taken was before the call for general elections, in March 2008, in which Zapatero was re-elected for a second term, and in December 2015, when Rajoy repeated in office. Between doing it and not doing it, there is an essential difference: from 2019 to 2024, it has meant additional revenue for the State of between 9,700 and 16,700 million, according to various studies. From the left-wing space, led by the PSOE, it is considered that this type of adjustment advocated by the PP and which applies to all incomes, especially benefits the highest ones. And, therefore, they advocate for more selective and direct measures for low or middle-income families, such as reductions and rebates on public transport and others.

The State closed 2025 with the lowest public deficit since the outbreak of the financial crisis of 2008, thanks to a new historic record in tax collection, as reported this Tuesday by the Ministry of Finance.

Last year, the Catalan government collected a record €6.069 billion in its own and transferred taxes, an unprecedented amount representing a 9.9% increase. This figure includes both taxes collected by the Catalan Tax Agency (ATC) and those collected by the central government and subsequently transferred, such as the 2025 tax. The amount, which doubles the revenue obtained in 2015, was driven by wealth and property transfer taxes, which rose by 9.6% to €835 million and 17.6% to €3.263 billion, respectively. Another major transferred tax, inheritance and gift tax, increased by 0.8% to €1.162 billion. Furthermore, the fiscal year closed with a deficit of 0.51% of gross domestic product (GDP), as explained by the Minister of Economy, Alícia Romero. For the second consecutive year, a current account surplus was achieved, reaching €549 million, compared to €381 million in 2024, and 97.2% of the total planned expenditure was executed.

The Spanish Tax Agency (AEAT) will focus its efforts this year on digital businesses, rentals, and the activity of... influencers. These are some of the guidelines included in the 2026 tax control plan published by the Official State Gazette (Official State Gazette) of this Thursday. One of the important elements for carrying out these actions is all the new financial information available to the Treasury, such as those related to the use of Bizum or cardsIn addition to the data provided by cross-border payment providers and e-commerce platforms, new financial reporting requirements have been added. This will allow for greater control over e-commerce activities and the concealment of payments and collections through so-called neobanks. (digital banks). Other activities that will warrant greater scrutiny by the Tax Agency include fraud by companies with high turnover and by individuals with "significant" assets. The plan anticipates increased oversight of the various business areas within the real estate sector, "in a context of market recovery after years of slowdown." One of the key aspects will be monitoring "the accurate valuation of properties in transfers, especially when related entities or corporate structures are involved."

The Spanish government is working on a package of measures to address the economic consequences of the war in the Middle East, especially the surge in energy prices. Meanwhile, employers' associations, unions, and various sectors of the economy are already presenting them with different demands, some of which share a common denominator: a tax cut. In fact, following the round of political talks between the Ministry of the Presidency and the parties in Congress, this Thursday morning it is the turn of the major unions and employers' associations: CCOO, UGT, CEOE, and Cepyme will meet with the Spanish government's economic ministers at the Ministry of Economy.

The People's Party (PP) is missing a key piece in its solution plan for Catalonia: funding. Although it knows that without Catalonia's support, reaching the Moncloa Palace (the Spanish Prime Minister's residence) becomes much more difficult, it often plays on anti-Catalan sentiment, which benefits it abroad. That regional funding is an uncomfortable issue for the party led by Alberto Núñez Feijóo was made clear this week during the speech by the PP's Deputy Secretary for Economy, Alberto Nadal, at a luncheon organized by Pimec (the Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Association). Following the presentation by Pimec President Antoni Cañete and his subsequent remarks, when Nadal was asked about Catalonia's fiscal deficit, which, according to 2022 data published by the government, ranges between 8.2% and 5.2% of GDP, he offered no answers. He argued that each autonomous community has its own interests and, therefore, should establish expert committees to determine their needs and then share them. Together, he said, they would be able to reform the model, conveniently ignoring the fact that the reforms implemented so far have always originated in Catalonia. Little else. He didn't quite convince the audience of an organization that had signed a document with seven other business and economic organizations demanding improvements to the Spanish government's funding proposal, the so-called G-8. The attendees applauded when Nadal pledged to lower taxes, deregulate, and repeal certain environmental and labor laws if he were to come to power in Spain. But on the issue of funding, the proposed solutions fell short.

The first measure the People's Party (PP) will take if it governs in Spain will be a "first tax reform" focused on recovering the income tax increase due to inflation in recent years. This is what the PP's Deputy Secretary for Economic Affairs, Alberto Nadal, stated at a luncheon organized by PIMEC in Barcelona. The other immediate initiative would be "to repeal the legal measures that hinder the rental market, as well as certain environmental and labor regulations." Referring to the policies advocated by Elon Musk in the US and Javier Milei in Argentina, Nadal, who served as Budget Secretary under Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, asserted that "chainsaws don't exist, but files do." He also stated that when the PP was in power, it increased public spending at a rate lower than the economy's growth, thus "creating room to lower taxes."

If ERC ultimately endorses the project, Catalonia will have a budget for 2026 for the first time in the last three years. In 2024, 2025, and up to the present day, it has had to extend its budgets due to a lack of support. It's close to 50 billion, a threshold that has been surpassed for the first time in history.This budget represents an increase of €9.1 billion in spending compared to the last budget approved three years ago, which at that time exceeded €40 billion for the first time. This time, the Catalan public accounts will no longer include the European Next Generation funds, which expire this year. Social spending will account for 74.3% of the total budget, the same as in 2023, but with increased resources and the incorporation of housing policies and public transport subsidies. The budget anticipates spending growth that will be slower than revenue growth, which includes record collections of over €6.4 billion in regional and transferred taxes. Unprecedented spending

Non-financial spending by the various departments will increase by 24.8% compared to the 2023 budget, reaching €40.399 billion. For Health, which usually exceeds the forecast – last November it already surpassed €14 billion due to spending from previous years – €13.840 billion is projected, representing a 21.3% increase compared to 2023, below the overall departmental average (24.9%); for Education, €8.356 billion, a 24.5% increase, also below the average; and for Social Rights and Inclusion, €4.248 billion, a 28% increase, above the average.

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An average of more than 500 complaints per day. This is the volume of grievances handled by the economic-administrative courts—bodies attached to the Ministry of Finance—an essential avenue for challenging tax assessments before resorting to the courts, according to regulations. It represents a veritable avalanche of work for these entities. However, in 2024—according to the latest available data—complaints decreased by 17.87% compared to the previous year, reaching 196,442. Conversely, the number of cases resolved, which reached 222,737, increased by 14.20%. The economic-administrative courts in Madrid lead the way in complaints, with more than 33,000; followed by those in Andalusia, with 31,000, and those in Catalonia, with 30,395—the three most populous autonomous communities.

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Amid stalled negotiations regarding future income tax collection, the Catalan Tax Agency (ATC) will hire 152 temporary staff members to handle tax returns during the upcoming tax season, starting in May. This represents a 49% increase in such personnel compared to last year. In addition, 36 new offices will be opened throughout Catalonia dedicated to this task. Eight of these will be temporary platforms exclusively for tax return processing, located in Barcelona (three centers), Girona, Lleida, Tarragona, the Baix Llobregat area, and the Besòs area. This tax season, like last year's, is a trial run, as the ATC will assume responsibility for tax collection in the future, as stipulated in the agreement between the PSC and ERC parties for the investiture of Salvador Illa. Negotiations on this matter are ongoing. They are currently strandedThe Republicans are demanding the ability to collect 100% of the Personal Income Tax (IRPF) within two years, while the Socialists are resisting this and believe the timeframe should be longer. The Catalan Tax Agency's (ATC) participation in the 2025 tax return campaign, which was already strengthened last year, involves the announcement of 16 positions for tax management technicians and 136 positions for administrative staff, to be assigned to various locations in Catalonia. The tax management technician positions (subgroup A2, level 22) will be located in Barcelona, ​​Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Maximum territorial coverage

The ATC will provide the service in collaboration with the State Tax Administration Agency (AEAT), ensuring maximum territorial coverage, specialized technical advice, and the interconnection of computer systems between both organizations. The service will offer telephone support from May 6 to June 30 and in-person support from June 1 to 30. Another element in preparing the ATC to take on more work and a greater volume of resources was an agreement with the State Treasury to jointly manage the vehicle registration tax. This agreement concerns a tax that contributes approximately 140 million euros annually. It took almost a year to sign after it was announcedIf the Catalan Tax Agency (ATC) were to collect 100% of the Personal Income Tax (IRPF), it would go from managing approximately €5 billion annually (currently, between its own and transferred taxes) to over €30 billion annually. To apply for positions for the income tax campaign, applicants must hold the required qualifications to join the Catalan Government's technical corps of tax managers and demonstrate C1 level proficiency in Catalan or equivalent. Interested parties must submit form ATC/007/2026 before February 2, 2026, attaching the corresponding curriculum vitae. Regarding administrative positions (subgroup C1, level 14), service will be provided in person at various locations throughout the region. The qualifications for entry into the Catalan Government's administrative corps and C1 level Catalan accreditation are also required. In this call for applications, a total of 10 positions are reserved for people with legally recognized disabilities. Shortlisted candidates will have to pass a multiple-choice knowledge test, scheduled for February 27th in Barcelona, ​​and a personal interview, which will serve to assess their professional skills and provide further information on their curriculum vitae. Selected candidates will receive comprehensive pre-training during the month of April, jointly provided by the Catalan Tax Agency (ATC) and the Spanish Tax Agency (AEAT), which will form part of the contract period. The positions will be filled through secondment or temporary appointment for a three-and-a-half-month period, from March 30th to July 10th, 2026. The experience gained and the length of service rendered during this campaign may be considered as merits in future job offers from the Catalan Tax Agency.

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According to a study, 96% of the cost of tariffs on foreign exports to the United States is paid by American businesses and consumers. think tank German Kiel Institute. This means that 192 billion of the additional 200 billion dollars (163.6 billion and 170.4 billion euros, respectively) that were to be collected in 2025 in trade tariffs at US customs have ended up being a transfer of money from American citizens to their federal government.

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The current situation is positive. Growth prospects remain good for this newly begun 2026. In general, Spanish companies are more optimistic than their European counterparts, although several variables cloud their potential, such as high tax rates and absenteeism—especially sick leave—according to employers' organizations. These are essential elements, they affirm, for improving competitiveness and productivity. A key positive point is exports—once the initial shock of tariffs in the trade policies implemented by Donald Trump in the US has subsided—despite geopolitical instability, according to the survey results. Business Outlook 2026 which are prepared annually by European chambers of commerce, including the Spanish chamber, chaired by José Luis Bonet.

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Visibly pleased with the regional financing proposal presented by Spanish Vice President María Jesús Montero, but aware that it's impossible to obtain 100% of what they want, the Catalan Minister of Economy, Alícia Romero (Caldes d'Estrac, 1976), received ARA at the Palau de la Generalitat, convinced that Catalonia will succeed. She also stated that she doesn't see it as impossible for the proposal to go ahead.

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