Nearly 1,500 Balearic vacation rentals not registered for the Ecotax

Nearly 1,500 Balearic vacation rentals not registered for the Ecotax

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It feels a bit like those emails you'd rather ignore: uncomfortable, but usually solvable. The Balearic authorities, in a data check, identified almost 1,500 vacation rentals that do have an official license but do not appear on the list for the tourist tax (Ecotax).

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Why is this coming to light now

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The data came together when the regional government cross-checked the information with the island councils. Result: many records did not match — addresses, owners, sometimes just a missing registration number. I happened to be in front of Palma Town Hall at 9:15 last Tuesday and chatted with a real estate agent at the market; she said: \"Many think the tax runs automatically. It does not.\"

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Who has already reacted? Around 570 operators have voluntarily registered and added the missing entries according to the administration. For the remaining properties, the authorities announce they will automatically register — with the result that due taxes will be claimed retroactively.

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What consequences loom?

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This is not a bureaucratic mess without consequences: besides back charges, there can be late payment penalties, and in some cases fines if information was deliberately concealed. For many private landlords this means: pay what has been missing in recent years — retroactively.

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A tip for owners: Check your documents now, the license number, and the registered address. A quick call to the island council or a visit to the administrative center (near me around the Carrer Sant Miquel) can often bring clarity faster than long emails.

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How the island sees it

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The authorities emphasize that the issue is not primarily about penalties, but about equal treatment of all providers and about revenues for infrastructure and environmental protection — that's their official line. Whether the affected landlords share this view is another matter. At the weekly market I heard voices like: \"I rent out only two rooms, that's not a business.\"

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My advice: Anyone running a holiday rental should take registration seriously. Even smaller misunderstandings can often be resolved without a lengthy procedure — as long as you respond in time.

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The coming weeks will show how many owners can still avoid automatic registration and how many will face back charges. For Mallorca and the other islands, this is also about transparency in the tourism business — and about money that should ultimately benefit the island.