20 Feb 2007 8:14 PM:

With respect to Roberto, I thought we were talking about Non Resident Taxes not the taxes of Residents/Nationals. I am in complete agreement about shopping around but not to suggest that cheapest is necessarily the best.  I have no hidden agenda, other than to contribute to the forum and to pass on the benefit of my experiences. Spain is different particularly for those who have experience only of matters outside of Spain and do not speak the language. To those that wish to do things for themselves I wish them luck, if they have the time and ability, anything is possible. For the rest who dont want the aggravation and the price is right choose to employ the services of another to act on their behalf.  How many people in UK for example calculate and prepare their own tax declarations apart from accountants and self employed persons?? Its a little bit like if you have problems with the breaks on your car. Do you call the mechanic or do you fix it yourself.? Horses for courses old chap.

 

Thread: This is a taxing subject

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18 Feb 2007 9:55 PM:

There are 5000 different taxes that can be in use throughout Spain. Probably 95% will not affect you. If you have a property in Spain and you do not live in the property you will be regarded as a Non Resident and as such will be responsible to pay some taxes in Spain. The question to ask "how best can this be achieved?" You effectively have three choices:

1. Do nothing

Advice: You can choose to ignore but you do run the (now) very real risk of being detected.

2. DIY

Advice: Be very sure you are receiving the correct information, disinformation and downright incorrect information is rife, do you really want to trust what your friend/neighbour/bloke in bar says when the only experience they may have is having paid their own tax. The fact that they have been successful in making a presentation does not guarantee that the information contained on the form is correct or that the tax has been calculated correctly.  Otherwise it is possible the tax office can demand proof how the taxes are calculated and if incorrect will recalculate and demand the extra. There are those that purport to know about taxes and yet say that if it is not correct, dont worry the tax office will never come back to you. Is that a situation that the taxpayer should be happy with, not sure if the calculation is correct, if the form has been completed correctly, if they will receive an additional demand from the tax office. There is nothing wrong with DIY but in some cases you need the right person for the right job and if the fee is reasonable, it can avoid a necessary but at the sametime aggravating annual process.

3. Employ the Services of Third Party/Fiscal Representative

Advice: To seek to the best Advice, the correct Advice, Professional Advice. This can be obtained from professional persons who have undergone training and/or received the appropriate recognized qualification/membership. This can be for example from a Lawyer registered here in Spain. Of course feedback from friends/neighbours/acquaintances on who they might recommend can be useful, but look for professionality and clarity. If someone you trust recommends them, it may work for you also.

 

Thread: This is a taxing subject

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