Spain: Booking.com again fails to comply with model 179

This article was written and published in Spanish and has been translated into English via Google Translate. Click here to read the original article.

While Booking Holdings is still trying to redirect its ‘problems’ with the Treasury, July 31 is just another deadline to update the data they have to send to the AEAT. An awkward situation for the tourist rental platform as recognized by Invertia and which it hopes to solve in the shortest possible time. The other major in the sector, Airbnb, has complied "from minute one" with the requirements of the AEAT, as confirmed by Invertia.

They are the two largest tourist rental platforms in Spain. Between them they add, according to the sector, one million accommodations located on their web pages. The regulation for these companies is the same, but Airbnb has sought the "weapons" so as not to open a confrontation with the Tax Agency. In that sense, and according to declare sources of the firm, it has been scrupulous with the requirements of the AEAT from minute one and "we have made available all the information we have on our platform." Already in December of last year, the company created a tool to transfer the data of the owners of the houses to the Treasury.

The obligation to send this data to the Treasury arose in 2017, though it isn't until this year when the platforms have presented the model 179 for the first time. In January they had to present the one of all 2018 and then they are made quarterly (this July 31 will be presented the second quarter).

But Booking has not yet submitted any data. The platform ensures that they are in it because “the priority is to comply with the legislation and to be able to keep our partners on the platform”. In the event that customers do not send the information that is being claimed, the platform will cancel their rentals.

The problem, they say, is in being able to follow all of the laws, because “part of the challenge for any global company is to fit the complex regulatory environment. We are subject to laws in several countries that, at times, may conflict with each other or present practical challenges."

This same spokesman said that, in relation to Model 179, “we are studying how local laws may conflict with privacy regulations and practical challenges in gathering the necessary information, but we are actively working with the relevant authorities regarding to its implementation."

 "We will continue to take measures to remind members of their obligations and to continue operating on our website," they say.

Booking ensures that all its customers meet strict requirements that are also consistent with regional laws. But the requirements to be declared a tourist rental property "do not seem sufficient for the Treasury".

This article was written and published in Spanish and has been translated into English via Google Translate. Click here to read the original article.

Join us November 12-15 for the Property Portal Watch Conference Madrid 2019.