The Government of Spain approved to send to Parliament its bills to create a tax on digital services. If approved, 3% of the income would be applied to the business tax for the provision of online services.
The Executive indicates that this way the measure could contribute one thousand 200 million Euros to the national treasury to the year.
Spain, together with other countries of the European Union, including Italy and the United Kingdom, are making national plans to create taxes on online services. But they have not made agreements regarding the application of a levy in the European Union.
The tax on online services is designed to prevent large companies such as Amazon, Google, Facebook and Uber from evading taxes. Like them, other companies direct their profits to countries of the European bloc, calculated with low tax rates.
Tax on online services
The announcement on this request was made by the spokesperson of the Spanish Government, Isabel Celaá, after the Council of Ministers in Spain.
Celaá said that the tax on online services points to compliance with the payment of rents by companies with revenues of more than 750 million euros, spread throughout the world. With at least three million euros only in Spain. He confirmed that the proposal is aligned with the suggestions of the European Union on this matter.
In parallel, the tax on online services would impose rents on online mediation services. As well as the sale of data generated from information provided by the user in digital interfaces.
Government adds another project to generate resources
The Government also decided to send another service project to the parliamentary chambers. It also proposes to tax with 0.2% the financial transactions of acquisition of shares of listed Spanish companies. As long as its market capitalization is greater than one billion euros.
According to the Government, the application of this tax would pay Spain about 850 million euros per year. And it would include the fiscal impact in its budget plans for the year that has just begun.
This proposal must definitely have the approval of the Congress.
Digital economy or free online services?
In several countries there are discussions about whether or not to establish taxes for the digital economy. Particularly of the online services. Basically they consist of taxes that peign to lucrative activities carried out by companies not based in a certain country, through their digital platforms.
In the purpose of the new regulation presented by the Spanish Executive for online services, it is suggested that a 10% fee be charged to consumer media such as Netxflix or Spotify. And platforms for the acquisition of products such as Aliexpress or Amazon. Although the digital commerce of goods is required by law to pay the Value Added Tax, there are legal loopholes. And there is no proper supervision.
Then, the Government proposes to charge this type of taxes to the services that are offered online.