Eider Mendoza, the General Deputy of Gipuzkoa, has stressed that the tourist tax will come into force “in all municipalities at the same time” on January 1, 2027. She emphasized that it cannot be collected before this date, as stipulated by the “institutional agreement” reached, which provides “legal certainty.”
Mendoza made this clarification during a press conference held this Tuesday in San Sebastián, where she reported on the agreements of the Governing Council. The clarification came in response to questions about the persistence of Donostia's mayor, Jon Insausti, in wanting to collect the tax from next summer.
“"Although it is complicated, it is not impossible. We approach this issue with optimism, as we have done with the Eureka Science Museum."
The president of the provincial government recalled that the inter-institutional agreement to regulate the new tourist accommodation tax in a coordinated manner enjoys “unanimity,” as it is supported by the Association of Basque Municipalities-Eudel, in addition to the provincial councils. This agreement establishes that it will come into force on January 1, 2027, because once the provincial regulation is approved, each municipality will have to “approve its own ordinances” to determine its specific rates, within a range of 0.75 to 7.5 euros per night.
Mendoza pointed out that “each municipality has very different processes for approving these ordinances” and added that “it was Eudel who requested that it come into force from January 1.” For his part, Insausti has stated that he “is not throwing in the towel” and remains optimistic about applying the tourist tax in Donostia as soon as possible, noting that there are still opportunities to present amendments until April 24.
