The
OLIVE PRESS
COSTA BLANCA SUR / MURCIA
FREE
Your expat
voice in Spain
Vol. 1 Issue 7 www.theolivepress.es February 6th - February 19th 2020
SOMETHING FOR THE WEEKEND? Take a visit to Spain’s secret Acropolis See page 10
Oh and it’s Valentines Day, chaps! Don’t Forget Find our romantic recipes inside
LIFE ON THE EDGE, See page 5
Goose chase trade deal
A UK plan for a Canada-style free trade deal with the European Union has been rejected. It comes as UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson laid out his vision for a trade deal with Brussels insisting there was ‘no need’ to follow EU rules. His aim is an agreement like the one Canada signed in 2016 where import tariffs on most goods have been eliminated. The flow of services, such as banking – which is of more importance to the UK – however are much more restricted. He also mentioned however, that if this deal is not reached the UK will return to the Withdrawal Agreement, or have a similar deal to Australia. Boris used his speech - titled ‘unleashing Britain’s potential’ - to highlight the fact that the UK intends to revert to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) terms if the EU refuses such a deal. He said: “The choice is emphatically not ‘deal or no deal’. “The question is whether we agree a trading relationship with the EU comparable to Canada’s - or more like Australia’s. In either case, I have no doubt that Britain will prosper mightily.” See Time’s Up on page 6
Charity case See page 14
HUNDREDS of British-run charity shops are ignoring new Spanish laws that require them to charge value added tax (IVA) on second-hand goods. A tax clampdown has seen a number already slammed with big fines, with many more now in the firing line, the Olive Press can reveal. One well known shop on the Costa Blanca is now facing fines of ‘up to €24,000’ after an inspection revealed they charged no IVA on sales throughout 2018. The Torrevieja charity’s accountant, who asked not to be named, said shops are being viewed as any other high-street business following law changes to crackdown on fraudulent behaviour. “The government’s view is that it is not fair that a legitimate business is charging IVA on sales while next door a charity shop can cut down prices,” the accountant told the Olive Press this week. “There are a lot of expats who need to make themselves aware that this is not a clampdown but merely the government doing its job properly.” The accountant said he was fighting Hacienda over the money demanded from his client as the client ‘was not aware’ of the laws. He pointed out that back home in the UK, charity shops enjoy zero-rated VAT on sales of donated
Hundreds of British-run charity shops are facing fines after ignoring tax laws EXCLUSIVE By Joshua Parfitt
goods. It comes as another British charity, which has two shops in Torrevieja, has also been hit with a €5,000 fine after an inspection revealed no IVA was paid on second-hand items in 2017. “It’s completely unfair,” the president, who asked to remain nameless to protect the charity’s humanitarian work, told the Olive Press. “Our charity steps in because the government is failing to care for its citizens, and now we have to pay them for it? “Factoring 21% IVA into existing prices will heavily affect the work we do and mean we reach fewer people in need.” The president added his two charity shops were some ‘of the very few’ British-run enterprises which are now adding the tax. He urged all charity shops to make double sure they are not liable to
UNDER PRESSURE: Charity shops face hefty Government fines fines. “You have to bear in mind that most Susan Weeding, who operates four of our rescues come at the request of charity shops for her Easy Horse police and councils directly – someCare Rescue Centre in Rojales, said times from as far as Murcia and she ‘might as well give up’ if she Granada. starts having to pay IVA to the gov- “We’re not allowed to re-home them ernment. as they become evidence in court “The September storms already left cases, so why should we be hit by the the Vega Baja region with no forage government for doing our best?” crops and we’re now in debt just to keep our 121 horses, ponies and Opinion Page 6 donkeys alive,” she said.