DOWNANDOUT

Dear Forum members

Does anyone know how one gets informed about the yearly IBI that needs to be paid and also waste charges (Recogida Residuous Solidos) ?

I know we can pay it online to the SUMA Alicante office but how are we normally informed that it is due for payment?

We are in the UK and do not have access to our Spanish flat while we are evicting a tenant (for the last few years) so we don't see any demand letters , etc.

Just worried that we might get penalised heavily for late payment (we paid any overdue charges via our solicitor but wondering why we are not being informed direct).

Any information will be greatly appreciated.

missile

Why not ask your solicitor?

DOWNANDOUT

I have sent him an email - thanks

Also just interested in how other Spanish residents get informed of IBI and waste charges ? I've heard that they don't get reminders and if one is late with payment there are some high penalty fines.

snikpoh

I suspect most of us pay by direct debit and then there's no problem with late or missed payments.

missile

I set up direct debits for all my taxes and utility payments. You should be able to check previous payments and the due dates for recurring payments on your previous bills.

VEDShappy

I'm not far north of Calp. I get a paper bill through the post from Suma.
I can't tell you about reminders as I've always paid as soon as I get it, although a friend was penalised for a late payment (similar circumstances to you).

Barriej

When we purchased the flat last year I asked the Solicitor what would happen with regard to the IBI etc.

She said they would inform everyone and get the payments made by DDR.

Ive had one bill this year but don't know what it was for as I haven't signed up for the digital access yet (will do once we arrive in the country for good).

bobd22

Ibi bills only come out around this time in our area. Plus many bills have been delayed due to covid lockdown. The rubbish water etc bills should come from the local Ayuntamiento ours are quarterly the IBI bill is regional not Ayuntamiento. You should get bills even though paying by direct debit but if direct debit they are marked domicilio .

snikpoh

We pay all our bills by direct debit - we have been told repeatedly that we do NOT get bills. If we want details, we have to go online and see the details on the bank statement.

Maybe every where is different

bobd22

My area is Velez Malaga as you say must be different which isn't unusual for Spain. We have always paid direct debit and always received bills for the past 12 years. If non resident the IBI bill is important as it is from it that you get the catasteral value in order to calculate non resident tax.

VEDShappy

The OP mentioned Suma and this is the salient part of the query.
If you don't use Suma it's likely that your experience will be different

Longlegpete

Contact the Suma office in Alicante if you can't get to the office in Calpe, they will give you the details you need, you will need to provide certain documents via email, or phone them , they have English speaking operators from memory Mon to Wed but it's a few years since I've needed to use them, you can then sign up for the digital service and pay by DD

DOWNANDOUT

Many thanks - there is a link on the Suma site advising when the IBI and Waste bills are due. However, to see them online one has to get some digital certificate via registration with another organisation which involves having a Spanish bank account IBAN . But we don't have a bank account in Spain which means we will have to actually asking the Suma office what invoice amount needs to be paid. Looks like IBI and waste charges are due from mid -August to 6th November (waste charge is billed bi-annually).