In 2025, the Agencia Tributaria de Cataluña (ATC) identified €333 million in tax fraud, up 13% from the previous year. The findings cover both regional taxes and taxes transferred from the state, as Catalonia steps up efforts to combat evasion. The Department of Economy and Finance said the results show funds recovered that would otherwise have been lost to public services.
The largest sums came from inheritance and donations tax (€136.7 million) and wealth tax (€101.6 million). Property transfer and documented legal acts tax accounted for €81.4 million. Together, these categories account for 96% of the total amount detected in 2025. Inspectors also identified €6.5 million in fraud linked to false business relocations: 16 cases involving moves to other Spanish regions and eight to foreign countries. They also uncovered €6.2 million in gaming-related tax fraud and €1.2 million tied to undeclared foreign assets.
Since Catalonia launched its anti-fraud plan in 2015, authorities have recovered €2.709 billion. The current plan, covering 2023 to 2026, has already brought €914 million to light, exceeding the totals from the two previous periods, which recorded €557 million and €761 million, respectively. The ATC has also expanded electronic auctions and published a list of its 60 largest debtors, whose combined debts total €184.3 million.
The agency continues to monitor the fiscal gap, the difference between expected and actual tax collection. The most recent estimate, from 2022, puts the gap at 11.6%, 10 percentage points lower than in 2014. The improvement reflects ongoing efforts to tighten controls and improve compliance across Catalonia.
Efforts to combat tax fraud in Spain have drawn increased attention as authorities seek to ensure fair contributions to public finances. Business relocations and tax avoidance have also been points of national contention, alongside high-profile cases involving government oversight and financial transparency. Recent scrutiny of public-sector decisions, including the Plus Ultra airline bailout, has sparked debate over accountability and the use of public funds, as discussed in coverage of government support for Zapatero amid the Plus Ultra controversy.
Spain’s regional tax agencies, including the ATC, enforce tax laws and recover lost revenue, affecting regional budgets and public trust in the tax system. As Catalonia approaches the final year of its current anti-fraud plan, the results point to greater capacity to detect and deter complex evasion, particularly involving inheritance and property, as well as concealed cross-border assets. The publication of major debtors and use of digital tools signal a shift toward greater transparency and efficiency in tax administration. These measures are expected to remain central as authorities work to close the fiscal gap and strengthen public finances.
