Possible refund for expats
Up to 90,000 British expats who have sold their holiday home in Spain at some point in the past 12 years could now be owed thousands of pounds by the Spanish tax authorities.

In a landmark legal case, The European Court of Justice (ECJ) recently ruled that the Spanish government illegally overcharged non-Spanish residents Capital Gains Tax (CGT) from 1997 up until December 2006.

Spanish natives paid just 15 per cent in capital gains tax (CGT) on their profits when they sold, while Brits and other non-residents were charged a huge 35 per cent. Some expats who sold their property in this time could be due, on average, more than £13,000 in the form of a tax refund, adding up to a total possible payout by the Spanish government of some £283 million. Homeowners who paid the 15% tax will also be able to claim with the average payout looking to be around £7,000.

Other Europeans are also now examining the ruling, with many having paid out the excess tax now looking to claim a refund which, according to the figures suggested, could add up to around €944 million.

Interest can also be claimed on the amount – at a rate of 6% per year – after the Spanish court changed the law in 2007 following a court case involving a British couple who claimed that the Spanish government had no right to charge them more than a Spanish national.

The amounts owed will be boosted by the exchange rate as the euro has soared 27 per cent against the pound in the past two years.
Valencia-based lawyer Emilio Alvarez, who is handling hundreds of claims, said: “If you think you have been affected, seek professional specialist legal advice as it is not a simple case of filing your reclaim with the Spanish Tax Authorities. It is important to choose a specialist Spanish tax solicitor familiar with International tax laws and court procedures, as each case may have to go to the Spanish and ECJ Courts.”
 Visit www.spanishtaxreclaim.co.uk  to find out more or in the UK, call the Spanish Tax Reclaim Helpline on 0845 680 3849

Swine flu jabs
FOUR million doses of vaccinations against swine flu are now at regional public health centres, part of a programme  which started on November 16 to protect people considered to be high risk.
The Health Minister also  announced  that the remaining six million doses – necessary to complete the programme and cover  all high risk groups -- will be delivered soon.
Those seen to be at the greatest risk from the A1N1 virus are health professionals, workers in essential public services, pregnant women and the chronically ill.  The minister announced that those who fall within those groups will be notified of their appointments automatically – provided they are registered at their local health centre.  
Spain currently has a stock of 37 million doses of the swine flu vaccine, costing the state 270 million euros. The Ministry has yet to decide if its remaining stocks will be kept to be used for next year, or if they will be sold on to the private sector.

Water will keep flowing
Costa del Sol residents and visitors should be assured of a ‘dependable’ flow of domestic water throughout the summer, according to the politicians.
The Andalucian Minister for the Environment has announced an investment of 100 million euros by her department, which will ensure the quantity and purity of water supplies in the region.

Flamenco museum for sale
A museum dedicated to flamenco has been put on sale by its creator, Spanish flamenco dancer Cristina Hoyas, less than three years after its creation by means of a government grant of  881,000 €. The museum, in Seville, is being advertised on the internet with a price tag of six million euros.
Cristina Hoyas is reported to be very sad at having to take the decision, but blames it on the recession. She is hoping that a new owner may be able to keep the venue open. There have been calls by Partido Popular politicians for some of the grant to be returned.
The museum is for sale on the internet site, www.idealista.com where details and a video can be found. The museum webpage is www.museoflamenco.com

Mayors threaten to resign
The continuing uncertainty surrounding  the fate of ‘illegal’ houses in the Axarquia region has prompted the area’s mayors to threaten to resign en masse.
The move comes as a protest against what they feel has been ‘trickery’ on the part of the Junta de Andalucia, who summarily revoked building licenses and so far have not decided whether the hundreds of affected properties can be legalised. Some of the mayors already face prison sentences for town planning irregularities in the region.

Young alcoholics in Spain
The UK is not the only country troubled by binge drinking and the effects of alcohol on the young. According to figures released by the Federation of Rehabilitated Alcoholics, there are now more than two million alcoholics in Spain and their typical profile  has changed to people in their 20s.
According to Doctor Francisco Pascual, who works with the Federation,  the typical alcoholic was previously a person in their 40s or 50s, but now youngsters of around 20 are the most prevalent, and they also tended to take cocaine and cannabis.
The Federation, in collaboration with the National Drugs Plan, has released a new document stating that some eight per cent  of the population -- more than 3.68 million Spaniards -- abuse alcohol. Abuse is considered to be when a person drinks the daily equivalent of half a litre of wine, and a person is considered to be dependent when their alcohol consumption reaches a bottle of wine per day.

Watch out, watch out, there’s a thief about!
This may be the season of goodwill but sadly, in these difficult times, not everyone has our best interests at heart.
Just as in the UK, thieves delight in operating when and where people may be off guard and shopping centre car parks are sometimes a tempting base for them.
Some actual  situations include the ‘nice person’ who comes up to you in the car park, and starts talking on some pretext or other. He may even put his arm round you, leading you to think he is genuinely being friendly. But then you discover that when he left your company, so did the wallet in your pocket.
Another target is the mother who is busy putting shopping into her car. No-one appears to be around as she takes the trolley back to the nearby park – which in one instance was only just opposite  -- leaving the car unlocked since her child is inside.
However, when she returns to the car, her handbag is gone. She didn’t see anyone because the would-be thieves were crouching down beside the car. Not only are her money and cards missing, but also personal information such as addresses, mobile phone and other potentially revealing personal items.
Thieves often work in pairs, so  while one distracts you by asking directions while you are packing the car, usually standing in a position where they block your line of sight, the other ‘lifts’ your belongings from inside.
These are just a few examples of actual events, and far from being ‘stupid,’ all of the victims mentioned were intelligent, wary and normal people who just for one instant took their eye off the ball.
So in the midst of all the pre-Christmas rush, be especially vigilant and don’t let thieves ruin YOUR festive season – or anyone else’s for that matter. If you spot anyone – or anything – suspicious, call the national police on 091 or local police on 092.