classified

I have been informed that the F720 declaration of assets etc. may be abolished due to it being classed as discrimination within the EU, is this true.

Fred James

Who gave you that information and on what basis is it discrimination?

classified

Cannot remember.

Fred James

If you can't remember, then sorry, I cannot help.

Mitzyboy

Classic

Dick Dasterdly

Expats head home from Spain as they are forced to declare overseas assets | This is Money

I came across this from two years ago, though whether anything became of it I've no idea.


"Russell Thomson, the former British Consul for Alicante, Spain, has led a petition to the EU, branding the law unlawful and discriminatory against non-Spanish residents."

Fred James

How can it be discriminatory as it also applies to Spanish citizens? In fact, it was them it was actually devised for as many of them have been hiding assets outside Spain.

pnwheels

I don't think it was the form itself, more the level of possible fines being threatened.

Mustard

This is taken from Expansion in March this year:

Headline:
Bruselas ve ilegal cómo España obliga a declarar los bienes en el extranjero

Link
Bruselas ve ilegal que España obligue a declarar los bienes en el extranjero - Expansión.com

Fred James

That's correct, and by any standards, the fines are draconian.

As for the supposed "discrimination" against non Spanish, the only point made is that the details of the law were only available in Spanish.

That is just plain ludicrous as the basic income tax laws are only available in Spanish as is 99% of all other government publications.

Does HMRC publish all its tax rules in Spanish - no, of course it doesn't.

bobd22

There has recently been an article re this in the Olive Press maybe that is where this came from?

Dick Dasterdly

Paying your taxes in Spain | Spain News

Fred James

Nothing in there about discrimination.

bobd22

I have found this old link re the specifics of the full complaint put to the EU. Quite lengthy but reading through it does mention that the 720 is discrimatory in that more EU citizens will hold assets abroad and be required to complete the 720 than Spanish citizens. Of course that in itself is open to debate. Maybe that is where this information comes from that the op refers to?
http://www.citizenhouse.eu/images/stories/EU_Rights_Clinic/EC_Complaint_-_Spanish_Assets_Declaration_20130419.pdf

Fred James

That is really stretching the definition of discrimination.

You might as well say that it's discriminatory for expats to have to declare their UK rental income on their Spanish income tax form!