The 2023 income tax filing season began this week with strong momentum. By mid-morning, more than half a million taxpayers had submitted their returns, reflecting a filing pace of about 1,450 per minute. Officials attributed this brisk start to the desire to receive refunds quickly, noting that people are eager to file early because they expect faster responses from the Tax Office. This assessment was shared by the Director of the State Tax Administration Agency, Dr. Soledad Fernández, during the rollout of the Renta 2023 campaign.
Forecasts aligned with expectations: returns would start arriving in earnest within 48 hours. By 10 a.m., 523,000 returns had already been filed, marking an 11% increase versus the same point in the prior year. In particular, around 120,000 applications were made through the AEAT mobile application, underscoring the growing role of mobile platforms in tax filing.
The Tax Agency estimates a robust volume for the season. It anticipates issuing refunds totaling 11.65 billion euros to approximately 14.6 million taxpayers during the 2023 campaign, which begins this week and is slated to end on July 1. These figures were disclosed by the Agency’s General Director and the Director of Tax Administration. The outlook suggests a heightened level of activity across the board for this filing cycle.
The agency also expects to receive nearly 23.3 million tax declarations, about 1.2% higher than last year. Most of these returns will reflect refunds, totaling 14.6 million filings (slightly down from last year, by 3%). The remainder will be positive balances to be paid (about 7.1 million, up 10.2%), or negative balances (around 1.6 million, up 4.9%).
Over the course of the campaign, the Tax Agency projects net refunds of 11.65 billion euros, which represents a 1.8% decrease from the previous year. It also expects gross income of 18.908 billion euros, up 12.2%. The resulting net balance for the agency is projected to be a positive 7.258 billion euros for the current filing season.
Attention is drawn to the notable growth in positive declarations and associated income. The Managing Tax Director explained that the rise stems largely from higher incomes in 2023 that were not subject to withholding or were under-withheld. This includes earnings from economic activities, which rose by about 10% in 2023, gains from stock market sales or real estate transactions where asset appraisals climbed, and income from financial capital, which increased around 10% last year. The period also saw households increasingly investing in government securities, which contributed to the overall trend in reported income.
Experts and taxpayers alike are advised to prepare early, review available deductions, and use official channels to ensure accuracy and timely processing. The campaign emphasizes the value of reviewing income sources carefully since changes to withholding, investment gains, and asset sales can significantly alter the expected refund or amount payable. As officials noted, keeping thorough records and leveraging mobile filing options can streamline the experience and minimize delays for recipients across the country. The agency continues to encourage taxpayers to consult official resources for guidance and to verify any updates to filing procedures as the season progresses.