Spanish Tax Agency leadership shake‑up amid Zapatero jewellery probe

Spain's Agencia Tributaria announced that its director general, Soledad Fernández Doctor, will leave her post, accompanied by the heads of the Inspection and Collection departments. The departures come after the agency completed the peak tax‑return period and are framed by the government as part of a planned renewal of the 2024‑2027 strategic plan.

At the same time, the tax authority has opened a fiscal inspection into former prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, his wife and daughters, covering income‑tax, VAT, wealth and large‑fortune tax filings from 2021 to 2024. Police seized 103 jewellery pieces valued at €1.3 million, and investigators have yet to receive documentation on their origin. The probe aims to prevent the prescription of possible tax liabilities while a criminal investigation proceeds.

The agency faces heightened scrutiny from opposition parties, trade unions and the public, who note record‑high effective income‑tax rates and ongoing tensions over regional fiscal financing. A replacement for Fernández is expected in the coming weeks to maintain continuity in anti‑fraud measures and taxpayer assistance.