Pro-independence groups define the structure of the Catalan Tax Agency

Governing cross-party list ‘Junts Pel Sí’ and radical left CUP, the two pro-independence forces in the Parliament, put in place this Friday the basis for the future Catalan Tax Agency. It will be constituted by three bodies: the Catalan Tax Agency, the Board of Taxes and the Fiscal Council. The latter is one of the main novelties of the document registered by the pro-independence groups. The Fiscal Council, a body which doesn’t exist within the Spanish framework, will include representatives from both the public and private sector and will be responsible for advising the Government. The proposal will have to be put to vote after this summer as one of the three ‘laws of disconnection’ from Spain that both groups plan to approve, according to the pro-independence roadmap.

Pro-independence MPs from 'Junts Pel Sí' and CUP debating on the law for the Catalan Tax Agency (by ACN)
Pro-independence MPs from 'Junts Pel Sí' and CUP debating on the law for the Catalan Tax Agency (by ACN) / ACN

ACN

July 29, 2016 02:27 PM

Barcelona (CNA).- The two pro-independence forces in the Catalan Chamber, governing cross-party list ‘Junts Pel Sí’ and radical left CUP registered this Friday the draft document on the future Catalan Tax Agency. The proposal, which will have to be discussed in a committee and put to vote afterwards, is one of the three ‘laws of disconnection’ from Spain that both groups plan to approve, according to the pro-independence roadmap. The draft foresees the creation of three bodies - the Catalan Tax Agency, the Board of Taxes and the Fiscal Council. Indeed, the latter is one of the main novelties in the proposal, a body which doesn’t exist in the Spanish Tax Agency’s model. It will be responsible for advising the Government and is set to be constituted by representatives from both the public and private sector.  


‘Junts Pel Sí’ MP, Maria Senserrich emphasised that the law for the Catalan Tax Agency is “the biggest economic structure of state”. She insisted on its importance, since it will build “a very different model from the Spanish one” which aims to be “modern, effective, efficient, at the citizens’ disposal, based on trust and cooperation, and with juridical security and transparency”.

The draft breaks down the different bodies which will manage the future Catalan Tax Agency, including one which doesn’t exist in Spain “but does [exist] in advanced countries, such as Australia, Austria and Denmark”, stated Senserrich. This is the Fiscal Council, a body which will allow dialogue between both the private and the public sector and which will advise the Government. The Fiscal Council will represent “a meeting point between two important parts of the system” explained Senserrich and emphasised that 80% of citizens use some kind of adviser or agent to help them deal with tax procedures, such as the annual tax return. “This will be very helpful and it is set to be at the citizens’ disposal, transparent and convenient”.

The Fiscal Council will be constituted by a President, six chairmen from the Government, four to represent the local administrations, six representatives from professional associations and four academics.

However, the main body will be the Catalan Tax Agency itself, which already exists, but which the draft expects to fully develop. Finally, the Board of Taxes will be in charge of dealing with disagreements between the government and citizens, before resorting to the court.

The Catalan Agency for Social Protection, first law in the disconnection process

The creation of the future Catalan Tax Agency is not the first of the so-called ‘three laws of disconnection’ to be promoted. In May, ‘Junts Pel Sí’ and CUP registered the law for the creation of the Catalan Agency for Social Protection, which despite representing a new structure, it is set to manage the current competences that the Catalan executive has on this matter.

The new body will centralise the management of all those policies related to social protection which are currently competences of the Catalan government, except for those developed by the Catalan Health Service.

However, both ‘Junts Pel Sí’ and CUP’s representatives emphasised that the creation of the Agency won’t represent any additional staff nor new political charges, as all the workers and positions required will come from the existing Catalan government structures.

The main functions of the Agency will be “developing the Catalan system for social protection, meaning all those elements related to social protection which are currently competences of the Catalan government and the centralised management of all the benefits which currently compose the instruments of social protection and those which are attributed to the Catalan government by the present law”.

It will also mean the Agency “collecting all the resources, contributions and other amounts which will have to be paid, both through the ordinary and executive way, for concepts related to social protection”.

The law is currently continuing its parliamentary process, after the amendments presented by Spanish Unionist ‘Ciutadans’ and the Conservative People’s Party (PP) were rejected.