More than 7m people entitled to tax rebate

The Spanish taxman will return between 1.06 and 1.16 billion pesetas in income tax for the fiscal year 1999, according to Enrique Giménez-Reyna, the secretary of state for tax affairs. He added that the number of taxpayers entitled to a rebate will be between 7.4 and nine million, between 23 and 37 per cent fewer than for the previous fiscal year. When asked if the tax office plans to reduce the amount of income tax with-held from pay packets in order to reduce the number of taxpayers entitled to rebates, he said that the aim was to keep the money as long as possible in the taxpayer's pocket. Because of the changes to the income tax system, the average amount of tax deducted from wages has dropped by 11 per cent. Between ten and 12.9 million people will file returns in the campaign which started on May 2 and ends on June 20 for people who owe tax or June 30 for those with a right to a rebate. The taxman expects to raise more than 538'000 million pesetas.