The Minister of Treasury and Finance, Christmas of Anjourecognized today the difficulties that exist in realizing collection forecasts jointly of the three Basque municipalities in 2024, will exceed 19 billion euros, due to the impact generated by returns to mutualists and the evolution of the economy.
However, he assured that this situation will not affect the preparation of budgets for 2025which will be “slightly expansive”. This year’s accounts exceeded 15 billion euros.
The joint collection of the three provincial councils amounted to 18,212.5 million euros in 2023, i.e. 6.3% more than that obtained in 2022 (1,000 million more) and a new record year. The objective set In 2024, it was expected to exceed 19 billionbut this challenge will be difficult to meet, as the Basque Minister of Treasury and Finance, Noël D’Anjou, pointed out in an interview with ‘Radio Euskadi’.
The main reasons why forecasts are not met are the impact of mutualist returns and economic uncertainty in general and the evolution of the Basque economy in particular.
The collection of the three Basque domains is essential to prepare the budgets of Euskadi and this situation will be analyzed in the Finance Council Meeting which will be celebrated next October 15th.
However, Noël D’Anjou indicated that the Basque accounts for 2025 will be “slightly expansive”, despite the impact of the return to mutualists estimated at 700 million. “Its impact is powerful and it is a question that concerns us. Without a doubt, it will affect the collection of revenues and it is an atypical year”, he warned. The budget for the year 2024 has exceeded 15 billion euros.
In the same sense, it was expressed General Deputy of Biscay, Elixabete Etxanobeduring his appearance at the General Assemblies. In terms of collection, he pointed out that the month of August closed with an increase of 3% compared to the first eight months of 2023, so that 6.190 million were collected, which represents 63% of the tax revenue budget for the year.
Around 400 million in Biscay
Even if “the result is good”, he warned that the returns to the mutualists will have “a big impact on this year’s collection” since, in the Revenue campaign, More than 100 million have been returned corresponding to the financial year 2023 and between October and December the amount corresponding to the years 2019 to 2022 will be reimbursed.
In total, there will be around 400 million euros, “a significant amount” which will make it “difficult to reach the revenue budget“, although this objective will depend on the evolution of the economy during the last quarter of the year, he explained. In any case, he assured that it is not expected that “this will require budgetary adjustments by the end of the year.”
The deputy general announced that it would be extended “for an additional year” the deduction of 200 euros of income tax for the lowest incomes and the 70% ski pass will be consolidated for the self-employed in the first sector and for professionals in road freight transport.
