The Government closed agreements with all religious denominations, as it did days ago with the Catholic Church, so that the tax regime of all religious denominations with roots in Spain is equalized, regardless of whether they have signed a collaboration agreement with the State or not, according to sources from the Presidency. These tax benefits, according to said government sources, are the same ones already enjoyed by non-profit entities (NGOs, foundations, etc.) and religious denominations with collaboration agreements with the State.
This agreement was announced on the day that the Minister of the Presidency, Relations with the Courts and Democratic Memory, Félix Bolaños, held a meeting with representatives of the Orthodox Church, Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Buddhist Union of Spain-Federation of Buddhist Entities of Spain ( UBE-FEBE) and Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, at the headquarters of his Ministry, to formalize said agreements.
As explained to Servimedia from the Bolaños Ministry, with this deal “advances are made and the law guarantees equitable treatment for all religious denominations, and it does so through pacts.” Specifically, the Ministry, which is responsible for relations with religious denominations, closed agreements with the Orthodox Church, the Buddhist Union, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) and Jehovah’s Witnesses that It will “allow them to enjoy the same tax benefits recognized by the Catholic Church, the Federation of Evangelical Religious Entities, the Federation of Israeli Communities and the Islamic Commission.”
This agreement, according to the Ministry of the Presidency, responds to a “historic demand” of these confessions and their faithful and has been “the result of dialogue”; It is based on articles 9.2 and 16 of the Constitution, which “obliges to promote the conditions to make the fundamental right of religious freedom real and effective under conditions of equality, correcting a difference in treatment that is difficult to justify.” And therefore, according to the Executive, it means “gaining space in equality and neutrality in the face of the beliefs of citizens, which is the principle that defines the non-denominational State that we are.”
In data, it means benefiting a total of 1.3 million faithful: 1 million Orthodox; 122,000 Jehovah’s Witnesses; 100,000 Buddhists; and 61,400 Mormons. As well as with regard to the goods, premises and centers of the confessions themselves.
The Government recalls that this is the first comprehensive agreement reached with the Orthodox Church, the Buddhist Union, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) and Jehovah’s Witnesses since their recognition as deeply rooted confessions in 2003 , 2006, 2007 and 2010, respectively. In addition, it is the third agreement reached by the Ministry of the Presidency with religious denominations in our country.
Then, the first reached by the Ministry of the Presidency with the Catholic Church in which more than 1,000 improperly registered properties were identified, signed on January 24, 2022. The second, also with the Catholic Church and formalized on March 29, 2023, which allowed the equalization of its tax regime with that enjoyed by non-profit entities.
For the Presidency, these are “three very important advances in equity that correct historical differences in treatment lacking, at this time, motivation.” With this, the tax privileges of the Catholic Church are over, which is now treated as another religious denomination or non-profit entity. And the same treatment is recognized for other religious denominations with notorious roots, thanks to the agreement reached,” they underline from the Government.
