'Green-belt' landowners win IBI refund
Dénia council forced to foot the bill of €500,0000 in overpaid taxes
DÉNIA has been ordered to pay back half a million euros in IBI tax to homeowners whose properties are on land that was converted from 'urban' to 'rustic' by the council.
The difference between IBI on residential or business premises and that which is payable on farmland or greenbelt sites is huge – the latter is often only in single figures whereas the former is typically hundreds.
In this case, the owners have been overcharged by around €1,000 each in total.
The SUMA office has already refunded the affected residents, meaning Dénia council has to settle up with this local tax collection agency rather than the owners directly, and will 'gradually reimburse the money as and when it can', according to planning councillor Paco Roselló.
Another 1,500 plots of land turned by local authorities from brown-site into greenbelt, but which do not have any buildings on them, are pursuing a different line of action against the town hall.
Roselló says these owners, when they receive their IBI bills at 'urban rates', should go directly to the SUMA who will resolve their situation.
Dénia has already budgeted this year for an €800,000 reduction in IBI income.
The affected landowners had specifically requested that their plots become 'greenbelt' due to their not having any of the infrastructure needed for residential zones, meaning they considered it unfair they should pay 'urban' IBI rates.
Although this reclassification was granted, their tax bills remained the same.