Catalonia makes the first step towards gaining its independence from Spain

World News Nilgun Salim
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Catalonia makes the first step towards gaining its independence from Spain

The separatist government of Catalonia presented on Monday its first legislative project that pretty much consists in founding a financial agency which will have the main purpose of collecting provincial taxes, which are now being processed by Madrid’s Central Government.

Seen as the first step to declare independence from Spain, the Madrid government has warned the regional authorities from Catalonia that the establishment of the new tax agency will attract more sanctions and lawsuits for companies, writes Reuters.

The head of the Catalan government Carles Puigdemont said on Monday that the new tax agency is ready to collect taxes, especially the ones paid by companies or population.

Catalonia, unlike other regions of Spain, already has a regional tax collection agency, where the contributions to the health system and to inheritance, transport and gambling taxes are being collected.

However, the Madrid central government budget minister has warned that the new tax agency established in Catalonia will interfere with the current central tax authorities and they are about to collect national taxes.

If the taxes of companies and individuals in Catalonia reach the new agency and not the central tax authorities, it will be considered that they have not been paid, the minister said, which will impose sanctions and lawsuits in court.

The population and companies are legally obliged to pay their taxes to the competent authorities, otherwise, it is considered that they are avoiding to pay their taxes towards the Spanish State.

Puigdemont said the Catalonia would “cooperate economically” with the rest of Spain after a possible declaration of independence and hopes for a fiscal deal with the central government.