Earlier quoted context omitted.
> Why is it a fine? Why not a tax? what's the difference?
Traditionally, you only pay a fine if you’re caught.
Cynically, one could claim the same about taxes.
Barcelona Fines Landlords Who Let Buildings Sit Empty
21–30 of 332 posts
Re: Barcelona Fines Landlords Who Let Buildings Sit Empty
#22Why is it a fine? Why not a tax? Taxing unused spaces sitting idle makes a lot more sense than income (ie: people’s work).
In the US fines are not tax deductible, so that's one fiscal difference between taxes and fines. I have no idea if Spain considers fines to be tax deductible or not.
Interestingly, tax refunds are not always tax deductible, either. I paid federal taxes on the previous year's state tax refund this year. How does that make ANY sense?
Re: Barcelona Fines Landlords Who Let Buildings Sit Empty
#23It's kinda easy to make it look like a building is occupied and avoid the fine. It's kinda hard for authorities to prove otherwise.
If it's "occupied" there will be tax due on rents.
Re: Barcelona Fines Landlords Who Let Buildings Sit Empty
#24Earlier quoted context omitted.
Yeah let's just get rid of income taxes and have an empty-building based economy that makes a lot of sense
Or lower one with the revenue from the other... I also prefer sales taxes over income taxes with cheques to counter their regressive nature. And carbon taxes over sales and income taxes. Taxing destruction is a good thing.
That's fair but I don't think, at least with empty buildings, the revenues would be anywhere close to being able to replace a significant portion of income taxes. The scales are vastly different. But I should apologize for an overly snarky initial comment.
Re: Barcelona Fines Landlords Who Let Buildings Sit Empty
#25It's kinda easy to make it look like a building is occupied and avoid the fine. It's kinda hard for authorities to prove otherwise.
Governments have registries of where people live.
Re: Barcelona Fines Landlords Who Let Buildings Sit Empty
#26People should be able to do whatever they want with their properties
People should also be able to enjoy the ownership and use of their own properties, without negative externalities from neighbours.
Property rights are not a mere question of geometry.
Re: Barcelona Fines Landlords Who Let Buildings Sit Empty
#27It's kinda easy to make it look like a building is occupied and avoid the fine. It's kinda hard for authorities to prove otherwise.
Governments have registries of where people live.
Which is actually the enabler here: just register a friend or relative as living in your apartment, and you're done. And of course, you're doing that as a favor, so you're not charging them any rent that might be a subject to taxation.
Re: Barcelona Fines Landlords Who Let Buildings Sit Empty
#28How about letting people build more and taller buildings? How about that, huh?
Exactly. The speculators are communicating useful information.
Re: Barcelona Fines Landlords Who Let Buildings Sit Empty
#29People should be able to do whatever they want with their properties
This is so wrong it's not even within the ballpark of the discussion.
Re: Barcelona Fines Landlords Who Let Buildings Sit Empty
#30Why is it a fine? Why not a tax? Taxing unused spaces sitting idle makes a lot more sense than income (ie: people’s work).
Fines seem to be more flexible in their enforcement and cancellation, possibly as negotiation tactics. The label, as opposed to 'tax', comes with the idea of punishment and can more logically be increased to higher levels in ways not possible if considered a cost of doing business.
Relatedly, it'd be interesting to see a tax with a built-in ratcheting up effect each year. Imagine if you had a tax that doubled each year a property remained vacant -- that'd be similar to how they're using these fines.