sergio torras Soler partner at torras y Asociados
Torras & Asociados es el único representante en España de Alliott Group en contabilidad y fiscalidad. Alliott Group es una alianza global de despachos profesionales independientes que ofrecen servicios en auditoría, asesoramiento jurídico, fiscal, recursos humanos y finanzas corporativas.
Alliott Group, founded in 1979, has over 210 offices and more than 4,000 professionals across more than 60 countries. Its success lies in combining local practice knowledge with international expertise. Torras & Asociados was founded in 1955 by Manuel Torras Balbastre and Carmen Soler Doménech, and has since specialized in taxation in Spain.
The firm is currently led by Alfredo Torras Soler, a lawyer since 1975, and Sergio Torras Soler, a former Tax Inspector, who joined in 2007. Today, more than 20 professionals work there.
The firm is currently managed by Alfredo Torras Soler, a practicing lawyer since 1975, and his brother Sergio Torras Soler, a tax inspector on leave of absence, who joined the firm in 2007.
interview
– What are the main demands made by your customers?
To be fully informed of the constant changes in fiscal matters that our country is experiencing. I do not need to tell you that the fiscal scenario is in a very convulsive situation. The State must reduce the deficit and to do so it is constantly changing the regulations to increase the tax burden on individuals and companies. Our task is, based on the objective you want to achieve, to advise you in a flexible, fast and personalized way, facing each new scenario.
– And how does this advice take shape?
There are different possibilities. One of them is the economy of option, a figure of Tax Law that seeks the possibility for the taxpayer to find the tax alternative that, within the legality, allows him to reduce his tax cost. I reiterate: within the most absolute legality, it is a matter of presenting different options for companies and individuals to choose from.
– What is your opinion of the “Law on tax measures aimed at consolidating public finances and boosting economic activity” created by the Government?
On the one hand, there are measures directly aimed at increasing tax collection and others aimed at stimulating economic activity. For individuals, I would highlight the elimination of the deduction for home purchases in the Personal Income Tax. I believe that this will slow down the sale of real estate even more. Another measure for individuals is that gains or losses obtained from the transfer of assets acquired one year in advance, or less, are now included in the general tax base, whose maximum marginal rate in Catalonia is 56%.
– And for companies, what measures would you highlight?
Also two measures. The first one is the limitation to 70% of the tax deductible depreciation of tangible and intangible fixed assets and real estate investments for the periods 2013 and 2014 for companies that are not small. The second, in favor of companies, is the updating of balance sheets, which will allow, after payment of a tax, to increase the book value of certain assets.
– As a Tax Inspector on leave of absence, what is your opinion of the Special Tax Declaration, also known as “tax amnesty“?
We are facing an exceptional tax figure, it seems that although the expected amount of money has not surfaced, we must emphasize that now an amount of money enters the system that can encourage consumption and investment. And this is good news in view of the lack of bank credit we are experiencing.
– In your opinion, do political decisions influence tax decisions?
Of course. Governments, regardless of their political affiliation, take tax measures in the short term, which does not benefit companies, since a company’s tax planning must be thought out at least four or five years in advance. If laws are changed almost every year, it is complicated.
– What are the future plans of Torras & Asociados?
Maintaining our founding philosophy, almost 60 years ago, to help our clients benefit in an agile, flexible and individualized way from our in-depth knowledge of tax legislation in a constantly changing tax scenario.
