Hearing the word hacienda or tax agency always generates nervousness, since, fear of take a letter from the Treasury It is shared by freelancers, entrepreneurs and also salaried workers. Even so, many of these checks respond to automatic criteria that have little to do with personal suspicion. This is explained by Juan Carlos Galindo, expert in capital laundering prevention and terrorism financing, interviewed in “CONPDEPODCAST”, Space that already has more than 471,000 followers.
Galindo is a judicial expert in economic crime, he directs his own intelligence and crime prevention firm, in addition to having written books like Bitcoin: threat or opportunity, and cybersafesafas: the story of never ending. From its extensive experience, it explains how the farm mechanism, its control system and what are the most monitored operations works.
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“Everything starts with an algorithm”
The first idea that breaks with some myths is that the majority of finance checks begin without human intervention. “The territorial delegations cross your data with which it already has the Treasury. If they do not add up, I send you letter. This is automatic, especially in amounts of 30,000 euros down,” says Galindo.
That is, the first filter is a computer system. If there are discrepancies between what was declared and the information that the administration receives from banks, companies or organizations, the process is launched. At that point, technicians and inspectors who can request additional documentation or mention the taxpayer can already come into play.
For Galindo, the important thing is to be aware that poorly justified deductions, hidden income or without declaring properties end up appearing on the radar of the system. “The dinners, the costumes, the office furniture … there is a lot of controversy about what can be deduced. But if it is not well documented, the Treasury will question it,” he warns.
Where does Hacienda look
Another key element is the campaigns that the Tax Agency designs every year. “They are made in sectors where you think there may be fraud,” says the expert. At present, the focus is on three main fronts that are the submerged economy, cryptocurrencies and money abroad.
In the case of cryptoactives, Hacienda treats them as goods, not as money. Exchange that operate in Spain must identify their clients, justify the origin of the funds and facilitate the movements when required by the judicial authority or the Tax Agency itself. “It’s not so easy or so cool to have money without control,” Galindo explains.
When it comes to large taxpayers (companies with more than 1 billion euros), specific units come into play. It is there that internal or “sneaks” complaints that begin deeper checks begin. Even so, Galindo insists that the Public Treasury does not act for personal revenge or against relatives of those who move to countries such as Andorra or Portugal.
What happens is that a change of fiscal residence does not suddenly erase the previous obligations. “If someone moves to Andorra but continues to invoice in Spain, it can be investigated up to ten years ago in the case of societies, or four more years the fiscal course if you are a natural person,” he says.
What to do not raise suspicions
Juan Carlos gives some recommendations not to be in the radar of the Treasury and reduce the risks, the following being:
- Present the income statement in a coherent and correct way, so that the data and information blocks with what has the Treasury.
- Justifying deductions, especially if company expenses are declared, it is essential to have clear invoices and documentation.
- If we have cryptocurrencies, we must regulate them, declare their possession and the benefits obtained, with the aim of avoiding future problems.
- Keep in mind that the Tax Agency is four years to review, plus the current course, although in judicial proceedings the deadlines are lengthened.
- Avoid suspicious movements abroad, as transfers or assets outside the country must be declared not to activate alerts.
In short, the essential is transparency. “The Spanish hacienda is to raise money and needs to verify that taxes are paid. The debate on how that money is spent is another, but there is no escape to the obligation to contribute,” says Galindo.
“Without Hacienda, life would not be the same”
Beyond the technical part, the expert introduces a social reflection: “Have you ever put yourself sick and gone to the hospital? Have you studied at the public university? Do you walk through paved streets with lighting? All that exists because there are taxes.”
Although he acknowledges that the Spanish tax model is improvable and that there are cases of corruption in the use of resources, it insists that the payment of taxes is indispensable to sustain the welfare state. “The life we know would not be the same if we did not pay taxes. Another thing is what is done with that money.”