Following in San Sebastian’s footsteps, the capital of Biscay will update its rates and taxes after three years of a tax freeze during the pandemic. Among the novelties, a surcharge for vacant housing (25%) will be applied to tourist apartments.
Bilbao city council increases rates and municipal taxes by 2024 3% overall, after three consecutive years of tax freezes, bringing in about €5.2 million.
The city council approved on Tuesday to update rates and taxes to maintain “the quality of service” provided by the city council, whose costs have risen due to the rise in commodity prices, the energy crisis and the rise in labor costs.
As explained in a statement by Finance Councilor Marta Ajuria, “this update does not cover the increase that has taken place in the services we provide, but we want the tax impact for citizens to be minimal.” For example, he points out that the average share of the IBI “It will hardly increase by 1 euro per month”, and he cites as an example the cases of several districts, whose annual increase goes from 3 euros in Uretamendi to 6 in Deusto, and continues to 5 euros in Begoña or Otxarkoaga-Txurdinaga.
Among the novelties, the tax ordinances will recover IBI discount for large familieswith different percentages depending on the cadastral values, which will benefit about 1,500 families.
will also apply vacancy surcharge (25%) to the tourist apartments, which were previously excluded. In addition, measures will be taken to promote the construction in Punta Zorrotza of facilities related to the audiovisual industry.
One of the exceptions in these climbs the innin that case, the rates for terraces and bedside tables will be maintained, as well as the rates related to space requirements such as locks, scaffolding and fences.
That is why Bilbao City Council is following the path set by San Sebastián, who agreed to raise rates by 4%.
Source: EITB
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