Spaniards' Perspectives on Taxes: A Survey Reveals Pessimism and Responsibility

A new survey from the Center for Sociological Research (CIS) highlights the complex feelings Spaniards hold regarding their tax system, revealing widespread dissatisfaction and a call for reform. Conducted between July 7 and 16, the survey comprises responses from 4,004 individuals, unveiling that a significant portion of the population—484—believes that Spain imposes high taxes, while only 69 view the tax burden as minimal. Moreover, a staggering 789 of respondents feel that taxes are not collected equitably, arguing that wealthier individuals do not contribute their fair share. The survey findings indicate a pervasive pessimism toward the efficacy of tax spending, with 501 expressing that society benefits little or not at all from these resources. Furthermore, a notable 79% perceive that they receive less value for their tax contributions than what they pay. Despite these sentiments, 181 respondents were fully willing to accept higher taxes in return for improved public services, a number that is nearly tripled by those advocating for tax reductions, even if it meant a detriment to public services. Various public services are identified as critically underfunded, particularly in housing, research, healthcare, rural development, and dependency services. Conversely, areas like defense, unemployment protection, and public works were cited as receiving excessive funding. When discussing attitudes towards taxes, more than half of those surveyed described Spaniards as either unaware (43.1%) or not at all aware (14.7%) of their tax responsibilities. In contrast, many identified themselves as very aware (33.9%) or quite aware (58.5%) of their obligations. Tax fraud emerged as a significant concern, with nine out of ten respondents denouncing it as prevalent in Spain. Only 46.2% believed that taxpayers accurately declare all their income, a figure that drops to 37.1% when looking specifically at VAT declarations. The public identified several reasons for tax fraud, citing excessive taxes, low wages, and the tendency of wealthier individuals to evade taxes as contributory factors. There is a general consensus that evading taxes equates to deceiving not just the government but fellow citizens as well, with 79.5% expressing this sentiment. Furthermore, the majority believe that insufficient efforts are made to combat tax fraud. Responses also show a clear demarcation of acceptable and unacceptable behaviors concerning taxes. Among the least tolerable acts identified were receiving unentitled social benefits, tax evasion by large corporations, and unauthorized deductions by self-employed individuals. Ultimately, 54.4% of the respondents maintain that taxes are essential for the government to provide necessary public services, whereas 30.6% viewed them as an obligation enforced by the state without adequate understanding of their purpose. Only 13.1% saw taxation as a means of redistributing wealth. In summary, this CIS survey reflects a deep-seated ambivalence toward taxation in Spain, characterized by a longing for a fairer tax system and a more equitable distribution of tax burdens. As public sentiment sways toward greater accountability and transparency, the government must respond to these concerns if it aims to foster a more trusting relationship with its citizens. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2