Spain records €10.6 billion tax haul as foreign workers add €7 billion

The 2025 Spanish income‑tax (IRPF) filing campaign generated a historic €10.632 billion, more than double the previous year’s collection. Tax expert José Ramón López Martínez warned that part of this sum belongs to citizens who have not claimed their refunds, saying “Hacienda has your money; if you don’t claim it, you could lose it.”

Foreign‑born workers, who represent about 14 % of Spain’s population, contributed €7 billion – 5.1 % of total IRPF – through roughly 1.1 million returns, an average of €6 000 each. Overall IRPF filings exceeded 17 million, with Spanish workers contributing about €126 billion (94 % of the total). The figures are cited as evidence in the government’s push to regularise undocumented immigrants.

The record collection has sparked debate over whether it signals a stronger economy or a heavier fiscal burden on citizens, and highlights the importance of taxpayers being aware of available deductions and refunds.