Although advances in technology and better management have helped most taxpayers secure their rent refunds in a few days, thousands in Alicante still wait year after year for a single euro, especially when the tax authority asks for more information or additional documents that don’t line up with the records already provided. This mismatch can stall the process and leave people frustrated as the year turns.
In this way, many remained in limbo until December 30, with about 12,866 taxpayers in the province waiting for refunds during the 2022 campaign, representing 2.5% of all refund requests based on the Tax Office’s figures. That number is slightly lower than the year before, when 13,122 taxpayers were in this situation, highlighting a small but persistent lag in refunds for a portion of residents.
Occasionally, a segment of taxpayers experiences delays in administration. The truth is that these delays have not been widespread for some time. The Tax Office does not like to pay interest, notes Jose Maria Mollinedo, general secretary of the Gestha Treasury technicians association. He reminds readers that if the delay is the administration’s fault, the taxpayer could be owed up to 4.0625% per year in interest, depending on the case.
Normally, most taxpayers receive a formal communication from the public administration asking for more information, shortening the term to a maximum of six months within which the Treasury must file a declaration at no extra cost. This standard helps keep refunds moving when data is complete and aligned.
In this context, Mollinedo often points to inconsistencies or omissions that can trigger interruptions—such as subsidies that exist to promote ecological vehicle purchases or other consumption incentives that may be missing or misreported in some declarations.
Cybercriminals are also “fishing” in revenue campaigns
A common issue arises with interruptions related to donations to NGOs. If a donor’s identification is missing, deductions cannot be claimed. The same applies to home purchase discounts, which during a real estate surge can only apply to the portion of the mortgage that corresponds to the signed amount, not the full loan. Likewise, alerts go off when a tenant claims rent deductions but the landlord has not declared the deduction.
Sanctions
When these situations occur and the notification is reviewed, two outcomes are possible. First, the refund amount could be small, which Mollinedo notes might attract a 15% penalty for the taxpayer. Second, a larger shortfall could trigger a 50% penalty, though this can be reduced by compliance measures taken by the taxpayer.
Cybercriminals are also “fishing” in revenue campaigns
In total, the sum of refunds awaiting clarification this year totals just over 18 million euros. In addition to these disputes, last year’s submissions reached a record 855,390 declarations in the province, up 20,415 from the previous year, driven in part by more people receiving minimum vital income and active workers who must declare even if they fall below the exemption threshold.
Of course, the number of refunds to be issued was reduced from 520,024 to 507,937, with 495,071 refunds paid totaling 305 million euros.
This year’s campaign will begin on April 11. The income campaign will start on April 11 this year, offering online filing according to the taxpayer calendar. Submissions can be made by phone starting May 5, with in-person service resuming on June 1. The campaign will end on June 27 for payers and on June 30 for refund requests.