As ‘El Confidencial’ published this Monday, Emeritus King Juan Carlos I continues to travel to Spain without needing to justify your expenses or your means of transportthanks to his tax residence in the United Arab Emirates. On this occasion, the monarch arrived in Sanxenxo (Pontevedra) in a private plane belonging to his dentist, whose hourly cost exceeds 2,500 euros.
The emeritus king, although having left the country, continues to visit it regularly. This is his eighth visit in 2024. However, in the eyes of the Treasury, Juan Carlos I does not have assets in Spain, which raises questions about the origin of his trips and movements by plane, road and by sea. All these means of transport, according to sources, These would be “gifts” from close friends.
Carlos Cruzado, president of the union of Treasury technicians (GESTHA), stressed that these gifts “come up against the information according to which emeritus do not have property outside”. Cruzado points out that If Juan Carlos I was a tax resident in Spainshould give explanations about this type of donation. Javier Alonso, professor of tax law at ICADE, added that “a tax resident must pay taxes on donations received in his autonomous community.”
Even if He has no pending legal cases in SpainJuan Carlos could return to live in the countryside if he decided. Some leaders of the People’s Party have been demanding this possibility for years. Cuca Gamarra, spokesperson for the PP, declared that “he can go and return to his country whenever he considers it appropriate”, while the mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, declared that “he is free to come to Spain.
However, the lack of explanation about the gifts and the fact that he resides in Abu Dhabi suggests that his choice is not only personal, but also a more favorable tax strategy. Cruzado explains that “taxes are lighter,” while Alonso points out that “a resident has to pay taxes on donations.”
For the Treasury to consider you as a tax resident in Spain, Juan Carlos I should spend at least 183 days a year in the countrysidea condition which does not seem to be met. Despite this, its relations with Spain remain close, with frequent visits and constant monitoring of the press and public opinion.
