Tax Newsletter - April 2019 | Legislation

Approval of the effective annual interest rate for the second calendar quarter of 2019, for the purpose of characterizing certain financial assets for tax purposes

On March 28, 2019 the Official State Gazette (BOE) published the decision of March 27, 2019, by the Office of the General Secretary for the Treasury and Financial Policy, which, as is now the custom, sets out the reference rates that will apply for the calculation of the effective annual interest rate for the purposes of characterizing certain financial assets for tax purposes, this time for the first calendar quarter of 2019. The rates are as follows:

• Financial assets with terms of four years or less: -0.146 percent.
• Assets with terms between four and seven years: 0.114 percent.
• Assets with ten-year terms: 0.880 percent.
• Assets with fifteen-year terms: 1.421 percent.
• Assets with thirty-year terms: 1.890 percent.

In all other cases, the reference rate for the period closest to the period when the issuance is made will be applicable.

New legislation in relation to making payments of the debts managed by AEAT directly from bank accounts

On March 28, 2019 the Official State Gazette published Order HAC/350/2019 of March 5, 2019, amending Order EHA/1658/2009 of June 12, 2009 establishing the procedure and the conditions for making payment of certain debts managed by AEAT directly from bank accounts.

It notably extends the use of direct payment from bank accounts for deferred and split payment of non-tax debts granted by the competent bodies of the Economy and Finance Offices, applicable for payments falling due after July 1, 2019, provided the necessary adaptations have been completed by the tax authorities and, in all cases, for payments falling due after October 1.

This Order came into force on March 29, 2019.