2015 will be a year of change from a fiscal point of view. While there will be many fiscal reductions, there are areas where taxation rates will increase. Below is an overview of these changes
Personal Income Tax
Personal income tax, IRPF in Spanish (“inpuesto sobre la renta de las personas fisicas”) will decrease in 2015 and 2016. The 7The seven income brackets taxed from 24.75% to 52% in 2014,2014 will be reduced to 5 brackets taxed from 20% to 47% in 2015 and from 19% to 45% in 2016.
Property transactions/taxation on property sales.
The way of calculating capital gain tax will change dramatically. The coefficient adjustments for inflation will disappear and the abatement coefficients (used only for properties acquired before the 31/12/1994) will be limited to only the first 400,000€ of transmission (sale price).the sale ?
Residents will have to include the capital gain from the sale into their IRPF declaration. Non-residents will have to pay a capital gain tax of: 20% if the sale is completed in 2015 and2015 and 19% if in 2016.
This is a decrease from In 2014 where the capital gain tax rate was 21%. Nevertheless in most of the cases (except for properties purchased recently) the absence of inflation adjustment will make the overall tax payment higher.
Patrimonial Tax ( Wealth(Wealth Tax )Tax)
The patrimonial Tax will remain unchanged in 2015, with the initial threshold at 700,000€ (you won’t pay patrimonial tax if your net assets are valued below 700,000€). The autonomous community of Madrid abolished patrimonial tax, while the community of Catalonia lowered the threshold to 500,000€.
Professionals/ Self- employed workers
For self- employed workers (or Autónomos in Spanish), the most important item is thewill have a reduction on retentions ,retentions, made on invoices that were at the rate of 21of 21% in 2014. In 2015 the retention will be reduced to 19% and 18% in 2016.
Companies
The general taxation rate on companies will change from 30% in 2014 to 28% in 2015 and 25% in 2016. There will be the possibility for companies to avoid taxation on 10% of the profits, under the condition that these amounts are transferred to a contingency account. Many of the tax deductions will disappear, while the deductions for R&D will be increased.
Mortgages
Borrowers whoBorrowers defaultwho default on mortgages on a property will be exempt on the related capital gain tax. Moreover this change is retroactive up till 2010, which means that defaulters will be able to claim back from the tax office anyoffice any capital gain tax paidtax afterpaid after repossession.
Loss of work compensation
Compensation for loss of work will not benot be tax-free anymore. Loss of employment after 1/08/2014 will be taxed on compensation amounts of more than 180,000€.in most of the cases unless you take the case to labour court, and claim for unfair dismissal.
Rents
The new reform will remove tax deductions for tenants and landlords. In 2015 the rent deduction for habitual residence for people with an income lowerdeductions for habitual residence for people with an income lower than 24,107€ will disappear as well ? as several deductions for rental incomes for landlords. The change will be applicable for new rental contracts and will not be applicable to rental contracts signed before 31/12/2014.
Investments
There will be changes on the taxation of income from financial investments. The Minimum for income up to 6,000€, will fall from 21% in 2014 to 20% in 2015 and 19% in 2016. For incomes between 6,000 and 50,000 euros, the rate will be reduced from 25% of 2014 to 22% in 2015 and 21% in 2016. Finally, earnings of over 50,000 euros, will go from 27% to 24% in 2015 and 23% in 2016. Nevertheless the first 1500€ of income that were tax-free in 2014 will become taxable in 2015. In other words very small investors will be penalized.
