EPT Barcelona - Local tax situation
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EPT Barcelona - Local tax situation

Hello readers,

as I have heard, Spain is recently claiming income tax for poker.

Appearently Pokerstars announced, that for the upcoming event, this regulation will not be applied.

Since I cannot find any written confirmation on this, I am curious to hear your guys input on this.

Thanks,

Olli

31 July 2023 at 03:55 PM
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7 Replies



Any updates? Any word of any big winners getting followed up


How is the situation looking now in 2024 just before EPT Barcelona? Will this tax be deducted directly from payouts or it will be your responsibility to pay it after? If 2nd option, are they chasing people for it?


2nd option, if it's a lot of money they will send you a letter, tell you nothing more and welcome you at the airport your next EPT.

Don't underestimate how broke and stupid Spain state is.

Btw some Spanish poker players went to jail for not paying tax+fine+rate on all BEFORE being able to defend themselves on ridiculous IRS claims.

On the hypothesis that you don't care about ethic follow theses simples rules -> if you're down go play, if you're UP, don't play there, if you play there accept that if you ship you will never go back to Spain.

Source : Paid tax in Spain for some years + consulted Tax Advisor and had a few interactions with Spanish IRS


PS : Some Spanish pros do actually keep doing the circuit, but they basically turned into Ninjas.


by chiefsfan17 k

No they’re not tracked at all, how would they? Even USA doesn’t track that.

I’ve heard recently London rooms do some sort of source of funds checks if you’re cashing out over a certain amount but I’m not sure how exactly that works or which rooms. But as far as taxes go I can’t imagine there’s a way to tax cash games anywhere on earth lol

It is somewhat tracked, e.g. IRS have the right to make demands to see the accounts and casinos are supposed to give them, but casinos are very powerful and they do like their cashflows, so they willthrow as many wrenches in the works as they can, and make the operation last so long IRS almost always give up so unless IRS really really doesn't like you, you'll be fine.

They particularly hate pros bragging about their winnings on the web and this kind of stuff.

Also in Spain if you put CASH money in the bank and you are not a business, you immediately ring alarms and bank works DIRECTLY with IRS. (I'm speaking as low as 500 EUR a WEEK)


by pw17 k

How is the situation looking now in 2024 just before EPT Barcelona? Will this tax be deducted directly from payouts or it will be your responsibility to pay it after? If 2nd option, are they chasing people for it?

This has always been a bunch of talking about absolutely nothing. There is no tax.

Funny how all the people last year claiming there's some sort of tax are very quiet now.


Does anyone know where to exchange USD for EURO at a reasonable rate? Every currency exchange shops seem to be taxing/taking too much commission.

Anyone willing to exchange USD/crypto for EURO at Barcelona?


by HalSoo k

Does anyone know where to exchange USD for EURO at a reasonable rate? Every currency exchange shops seem to be taxing/taking too much commission.

Anyone willing to exchange USD/crypto for EURO at Barcelona?

Same here, I can send EURO through SEPA too. Just don't have an account to withdraw cash in barcelona.

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