"Suma" is ready to enforce fines for illegal tourist apartments at the request of municipalities
One of the innovations that Suma - the tax authority of the Alicante Provincial Council (Diputaci贸n de Alicante) - may soon introduce is the collection of fines imposed by local authorities on owners of illegal tourist apartments.
It's worth recalling that the regional government (Generalitat) has allowed municipal authorities to assume powers of control and sanction. Cities such as Alicante, Benidorm and Torrevieja have already taken advantage of this possibility. Speaking to the Plaza portal, Suma's director, Jos茅 Antonio Belso, explains the details of the pilot project to offer this new service to local governments.
Support in the inspection process
Director Belso stresses that Suma has been very proactive in cooperating with municipalities on tax inspections. While the authority itself does not have the authority to draw up inspection protocols - which is the sole responsibility of municipalities and local police - it can provide invaluable support throughout the process.
- Fraud Identification: The sum helps locate potential irregularities and outbreaks of fraud.
- Digital support: The authority is helping to implement digital systems that make it easier for the Local Police and officials to draft post-inspection acts.
- Case handling: Once the protocol has been drawn up by the relevant services, Suma takes over the handling of the entire procedure and the enforcement of dues.
Successful pilot project in coastal municipalities
The introduction of the new system was preceded by research. Suma conducted a pilot project in one municipality to assess collection capacity and contrast it with collection costs.
"We have noticed that the balance sheet is positive for the municipalities. That's why we believe that this model can be successfully transferred to other units, especially to seaside municipalities, where it makes the most sense." - Belso points out.
Tax justice and a new source of revenue
The collection of fines for illegal tourist rentals is not only an alternative source of revenue, but also a step toward greater tax fairness. These actions are part of the strategy to promote the Tax Inspectorate, which has resulted in a twofold increase in collections since the beginning of the current strategic plan.
Expansion beyond the province of Alicante
The sum is not limited to local activities. After 15 years, the authority has managed to attract two new partners from outside the province - the cities of Majadahonda and Roquetas de Mar.
- The cooperation generates additional revenue of about 500,000 euros per year, which helps cover the institution's operating costs.
- Discussions are currently underway with another city hall and a supra-municipal entity.
Suma's success on the national stage is the result of a change in strategy - a shift from a purely technological positioning to a strictly fiscal one. As a result, the organization has won eight awards over the past four years (seven of them outside the province of Alicante), including accolades from the Ministry of Digital Transformation.
