### Overview of the 2026 Tax and Customs Control Plan
On March 12, the Official State Gazette published the new guidelines for the Annual Tax and Customs Control Plan of 2026. While this resolution announces no new taxes or additional obligations for citizens, it significantly updates how the Treasury monitors the digital economy, which is increasingly relevant in our day-to-day financial transactions.
### Empowering the Tax Agency with Information
The Tax Agency’s enhanced access to data marks a radical shift in fiscal control. The new regulations extend the Treasury’s reach into areas such as mobile payments, neobanks, Fintech platforms, and second-hand sales platforms. The essence of this change is not about raising taxes; rather, it’s about the increased visibility into the income streams of citizens as digital transactions proliferate.
### New Financial Information Reporting
A focal point of the 2026 plan is the acquisition of new financial information from various payment platforms. The Tax Agency will receive monthly data on the ownership of bank accounts and the income generated by businesses and professionals utilizing mobile payment options, including Bizum. As a result, Bizum is now categorized with traditional credit cards, intensifying the scrutiny on transactions that once flew under the radar.
### Expanding Reporting Obligations
Previously, the reporting responsibility primarily lay with conventional banking entities. However, the digital economy’s rapid expansion necessitates broader reporting obligations. Now, even neobanks and other digital payment systems must periodically report specific data concerning professional profiles and significant financial transactions. This extensive data collection offers the Treasury a more complete picture of previously obscure financial flows.
### Neobanks in Focus
To address the unique challenges posed by digital financial entities such as neobanks, the plan highlights the need for enhanced scrutiny. These banks operate mainly through technological platforms and often lack a physical presence in Spain. While the Treasury aims to track potential discrepancies in income reporting, it does not penalize users simply for holding accounts with neobanks like Revolut or N26.
### Online Selling and the DAC7 Directive
Another significant area of focus within the 2026 plan is online sales platforms, such as Wallapop and Vinted. The BOE has noted a remarkable growth in transactions on these platforms, doubling between 2020 and 2025. Under the European DAC7 directive, these platforms are now required to report the income of sellers to the Treasury. This enables the Treasury to cross-reference declared earnings with reported income and investigate discrepancies effectively.
### The Critical Distinction: Individual vs. Professional Use
The new regulations put particular emphasis on differentiating between individual and professional transactions. Platforms are only required to report data for users using their services in a business capacity or those engaging in high-frequency transactions indicative of a hidden economy. Casual users selling personal items will remain unaffected, but professionals circumventing tax obligations will find themselves in the Treasury’s crosshairs.
### Implications for Freelancers and Business Owners
If you’re a freelancer or a business owner using Bizum or a similar platform for customer transactions, the landscape has changed significantly. These payment methods are now subject to Treasury reporting. This advancement allows for a more efficient and expedient process in comparing declared income with actual earnings reported to the Treasury, closing the gap on tax evasion strategies.
By fostering transparency in the burgeoning digital economy, the 2026 Tax and Customs Control Plan aims to create a fairer fiscal landscape that effectively adapts to modern financial practices.