Bizum is making a decisive move to tax collection in Alicante. The platform’s recent growth underscores this shift. The Suma IBI campaign is associated with the Provincial Council and has achieved record collections, pulling in more than 92% of the revenue from the province’s municipalities. Among non-face-to-face payments, Bizum stands out, rising 37.8 percent year over year. This adoption is part of a broader tech push by Suma to boost efficiency. Drones were already used to spot irregularities in tax payments by capturing aerial data to flag unauthorized building expansions. Now Suma has also ventured into the Metaverse, opening its first virtual office.
Suma achieved historic collections in the IBI campaign, surpassing 92% of municipal revenue
There is a noticeable uptick in digital usage, particularly in Bizum, which has become the central electronic tool for payments. José Antonio Belso, the director of Suma, notes that the 37.8% year-over-year increase is striking. He also points out a 23-month special section for vulnerable groups as part of the broader strategy, which helps improve the accuracy and speed of tax records.
digital services
Expanding digital services and delivering more flexible personal attention enabled the organization to collect 483.8 million in IBI and other municipal taxes in 2017, a 4.1 percent rise from the previous year. Nineteen provinces, including 139 municipalities, transferred collection duties to the Provincial Council. The communications strategy increasingly aligns with taxpayer profiles, a factor cited by Belso as contributing to the strong performance.
Technological innovations extended beyond routine tax work. The deployment includes a virtual tax office in a metadatabase, inspired by modern office design, creating a private, personalized information space for citizens. It offers interaction with Suma staff in a boundaryless digital environment. The executive highlights this tool as part of leadership strategies that blend innovation with citizen engagement.
The Metaverse currently does not support monetary transactions due to security concerns, so payments are not yet processed there. The first office is located in the Benidorm virtual environment and will rotate to other large municipalities in the province. Gamification tools are also used to help younger users become familiar with Suma, with WhatsApp dissemination and video call support planned by year’s end. Access to services does not require a digital certificate or key; citizens can use their ID to reach the service.
taxpayers
The Provincial Assembly facilitated tax payments for roughly 56,000 taxpayers, the highest figure in five years. Payments under 300 euros rose 3.8 percent, a signal that the crisis affected vulnerable groups more acutely. Upgraded functionality and usability of Suma’s digital tools enabled 1.4 million web accesses, up 1.7 percent from the prior year. The service center handled 110,000 calls and chats in Spanish, Valencian, and English.
Provincial Council President Toni Pérez emphasizes Suma’s efforts to offer the best digital tools and maximum payment options to meet financial obligations in tough times. Citizens are thanked for their strong tax awareness and commitment to their city councils during a challenging period.
New financial assets: a driver for solid numbers
Beyond technology investments, Suma points to additional factors behind solid results. Payment via Bizum, metadata initiatives, and WhatsApp channels are part of a broader strategy to streamline collections. The IBI campaign’s success has also enabled expansion into new financial partners, including BBVA, Caixabank, and Santander. These banks join Sabadell, Caja Rural, Cajamar, and Caixa Popular, among others, in supporting tax collection efforts in the province.