On April 7
, the 2021 Income Declaration
campaign starts
, in which about 20 million taxpayers have to declare the income corresponding to fiscal year 2020. They have until June 30 to render accounts with the treasury.
Like practically all aspects of life, the income statement is also marked by the effect of the coronavirus.
The massive use of temporary employment regulation files, ERTEs, during the months of restriction of the activity caused 3.6 million workers to collect at some point the supplementary benefit of the SEPE, a circumstance that may alter the obligation of declare, the withholdings made and the taxation itself.
Those affected by ERTE to whom the declaration goes out to pay will, of course, have more margin than usual to comply with the treasury.
MORE INFORMATION
Check all the news of the 2020 campaign
Teleworking, the taxation of the self-employed or how to compute income derived from rent are other aspects linked to the pandemic with a fiscal impact.
Circumstances that can complicate a procedure that has been simplified over the years, to the point that the declaration can be completed with the screen of the mobile phone with the same ease with which a text message is sent.
In the absence of a pandemic, this year the income brings few news, perhaps the most relevant being that until the start of the campaign the taxpayer cannot consult, as in other exercises, a tax return simulator.
Yes, it is possible to check the tax data in advance, but not if it goes out to pay or return.
90% of the taxpayers file the return electronically, using the RentaWeb system.
This serves both to confirm the draft and to add tax data that are not in the possession of the Treasury, and that are mandatory: a confirmed inaccurate draft is the responsibility of the user.
To identify yourself before the treasury, you need an electronic DNI, the electronic certificate, the Cl @ ve PIN or reference number, obtained from the 2019 declaration.
The prosecutors advise, thus, to pay special care this year when complying with the Treasury.
And, although normally most of the returns go out to be returned and relatively adjusted to the amounts withheld during the year, this campaign the labor and economic changes will be transferred to a good part of the taxpayers suffered.
Before making the declaration
How the pandemic affects income
Matters that I must not forget
Before making the declaration
Not everyone has to file a return.
Most workers are obliged to present an income statement whenever they enter more than 22,000 euros from their main payer, or when they enter more than 14,000 having more than one payer, including the SEPE, which pays the benefits in the event of ERTE.
Those who are not obliged can consult if it is worth it to present it, in case they have received withholdings or are entitled to a family deduction.
Declaration schedule
The return can be submitted from April 7 to June 30, if it is negative (to be returned).
If it is positive (to pay), and it is domiciled, the term ends on June 25.
The telephone appointment starts on May 4 and the face-to-face appointment on June 2.
By Miriam Calavia
Do I have to declare?
The obligation to declare depends on both the taxpayer's income and the origin of said income: if there are two payers, the limit goes down.
SEPE payments by ERTE, which are computed as an additional payer, will condition the declaration of a large number of taxpayers.
By María Matos
To pay or to return?
You can check if the return is positive (to be paid) or negative (to be returned) before submitting it, using the draft offered by the Tax Agency.
If it is negative, the taxpayer can file the return even if he is not obliged and receive the refund that corresponds to him.
By Cecilia Castelló
How to present it
For some taxpayers, a gesture in the mobile app serves to confirm the draft and present the return, although it is advisable to review the data in the RentaWeb program.
Before all this, we must check which identification system we will use.
By María Matos
What does Hacienda know about me
The most common economic data (payroll, mortgages, accounts) are held by the Treasury, which, however, requires the taxpayer to provide data on which they have complete or null information.
Doing so is the taxpayer's obligation.
By Nuño Rodrigo
The year of the pandemic
The disruption of the activity affected most of the income subject to tax: payroll, income of the self-employed or housing rentals.
Although there are no significant legislative changes as a result of the coronavirus (except for self-employed workers), this year's statement must be reviewed with special care.
ERTE: declare with two payers
The great novelty of this year's campaign affects millions of workers who have passed through ERTE and who have received payment from SEPE.
Not only does the obligation to declare change, but also the withholdings and, in some cases, the result of the declaration.
By Juande Portillo
Telework expenses
At the start of the campaign, there is no criterion set by Tributes for the income or expenses incurred by working from home during the pandemic.
So far, the aid is usually considered by companies as non-taxable endowments, but doubts persist among tax experts.
By Raquel Pascual
Dismissal taxation
The severance pay is computed as earned income, but the first 180,000 euros are exempt.
If it is charged in installments, the tax burden goes down.
The settlement is considered salary.
By Gema Escribano
If I am autonomous ...
The pandemic also brings headaches to the self-employed when it comes to paying taxes.
The aid is exempt below 2,000 euros.
In addition, the state of alarm does not count in the taxation by modules, and it may be convenient to make the declaration by direct estimation to recover withholdings.
By Nuria Salobral
Rescue of the pension plan
The pandemic has opened the door to the rescue of pension plans by participants affected by the disease.
As in the case of retirement, this income is taxed as work performance, which can lead to a high tax bill.
By Miguel M. Mendieta
Rental housing
Rental income is taxed as return on real estate capital.
If the landlord has not charged for the moratorium during the pandemic or has delayed payments, he should not be taxed.
In case of non-payment, you must record the income even if you have not received it.
By Miriam Calavia
Death of a relative
It is mandatory to file a declaration on behalf of deceased taxpayers during the year 2020, with the corresponding income declaration.
Most deadlines are not prorated with the date of death.
By Virginia Gómez
Matters that I must not forget
Most returns are usually made shortly after the return is filed.
However, the Treasury has up to six months to carry it out.
In the event of an error or omission, taxpayers have the statutory term of the income campaign to rectify a declaration already presented.
The most common deductions
Family, donation and housing allowances (both for renting a house and for the mortgage, for those bought before 2012) are the most common tax benefits for the average taxpayer.
It is advisable not to forget them when completing the declaration.
By Miriam Calavia
What if I was wrong?
The taxpayer can correct the return already filed until June 30 without penalty.
From there, the effect of mistakes depends both on who benefits from mistakes and who takes the initiative to correct them.
By Pablo M. Simón
I have assets abroad
Citizens are required to declare returns on assets they have abroad, which are not included in the draft and must be added.
In addition, if you have accounts or deposits for more than 50,000 euros, you must fill in a special form, 720.
By Miriam Calavia
I have sold a house
The sale of a home is subject to taxation as a capital gain or loss: the purchase and sale value must be entered, taking into account the mortgage.
It is not taxed if the income is reinvested in another habitual residence.
By Miriam Calavia
How long will it take to get paid, and how can I pay?
The positive declaration (to be paid) allows the payment in installments in two installments.
If the result is negative, to be returned, the Treasury has up to six months to make the deposit, but unless you have to check data, the return is fast.
By Álvaro Bayón
Tax residence and phantom rentals, in the magnifying glass of the treasury
In the Treasury's action plan there is also the surveillance of cryptocurrency holdings.
It plans to use data analysis tools as an alert system for assets that pretend to live abroad.
By Pablo Sempere
Individual or joint?
The decision of which declaration system to use is in the hands of the taxpayer: they can choose the mechanism that leaves the best tax bill.
Of course, once the modality is chosen, it cannot be changed.
By Miriam Calavia
Credits
Coordination: Nuño Rodrigo and Cecilia Castelló
Art direction: Fernando Hernández
Design and layout: Ana Muniesa
Illustrations: Bel Martín