The Tax Agency has opened an investigation against former president José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, his wife, and his daughters for income tax from 2021 to 2024, the corporate tax of his company, and VAT since 2022.
The Tax Agency has initiated a tax inspection affecting former government president José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, his wife, and his daughters. The scope of the investigation covers income tax for the years 2021 to 2024, the corporate tax of his business, and VAT since 2022. The actions began on June 22 and were communicated to the judge overseeing the main case against the former leader.
A Maneuver to Avoid Prescription
The Tax Agency has requested the judge to suspend the administrative investigation. With this request, it aims to prevent the statute of limitations for possible tax crimes from running while the criminal case progresses. This decision has been described as “unusual” by the Secretary General of the Tax Technicians Union (Gestha), José María Mollinedo.
According to Mollinedo, the Tax Agency “breaks the usual practice of not intervening in judicial processes until a ruling is made.” The union believes that the Tax Agency has acted following information from the ‘Plus Ultra case’, notifying Zapatero, his family, and his partner Julio Martínez Martínez. However, before the first appearance, it has requested the suspension to avoid duplications between the tax and criminal routes.
The Labyrinth of Jewels Valued at €1.3 Million
In parallel, the judge has opened a separate case regarding the jewels valued at €1.3 million found in Zapatero's office. He is accused of smuggling and tax crime. Mollinedo believes that the “most plausible” infraction would be related to gifts of jewels received from third parties, which would be linked to the Gift Tax.
This tax, as the expert has recalled, is not under the jurisdiction of the State Tax Agency, but of the tax services of the Community of Madrid. Therefore, it would be the Community of Madrid responsible for demanding its payment. Regarding the smuggling charge, Mollinedo has expressed skepticism: “Who can prove that it was the former president who physically brought those jewels into the common customs territory?” These crimes are usually proven with seizures at ports or airports, something he sees as “quite complicated” after the passage of years.
What It Means for the Reader and Next Steps
For the average taxpayer, this investigation reflects the rigor with which the Tax Agency pursues possible tax irregularities, even among public figures. The inspection covers several taxes and periods, which implies a detailed analysis of the declarations submitted by the former president and his family. If violations were confirmed, they could result in financial penalties and, in the criminal sphere, prison sentences.
Timelines are key: the Tax Agency has acted to prevent the prescription of tax crimes, which usually occurs after four years. The administrative investigation is on hold pending the judge's decision, while the criminal case continues its course. Judge Calama is investigating Zapatero for alleged influence peddling, money laundering, and organized crime.
So far, the former president has invoked his right not to testify, which, according to experts, complicates proving the smuggling of the jewels. The Community of Madrid will have to pronounce on the possible non-payment of the Gift Tax. The resolution of this case could set a precedent regarding the coordination between the administrative and criminal routes in tax crimes.
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