Charlie Smith
SPAIN has published a list of tax dodgers who each still owe over €1 million, despite being warned.
A total of 4,028 individuals and companies collectively owe the Tax Agency an eye-watering €14.1 billion – although it’s 7.8% less than in 2018.
Rodrigo Rato, the imprisoned former International Monetary Fund boss, is the most infamous of these slippery characters.
The former Bankia president and Spanish Economy Minister from Madrid owes the public coffers €1,019,740.
Joining him is Despicable Me 2 star and TV presenter Patricia Conde from Valladolid, who owes €1.82 million and is clearly living up to the movie’s name.
Two-times 250cc motorcycling world champion Alfonso ‘Sito’ Pons still owes €1.95 million after a fraud probe alleged he falsely claimed to be living in Monaco.
Meanwhile the top offender is Isolux Corsan, an international construction firm, which owes Spain €315.9 million in unpaid taxes.
Andalucian multinational energy firm, Abengoa, also owes a total of €3.14 million through its subsidiaries, following financial difficulties.
But despite the huge debts still owed to the Government, some 2,000 taxpayers highlighted in the list’s inception in 2015, are not included in this edition.
However, the list could be expanded in the future, as Acting Finance Minister, Maria Jesus Montero, hinted that she wished to lower the threshold to name and shame those owing the Treasury €600,000 or more.
