AI and Taxes: What’s Happening in Spain?

Why AI Matters

Artificial intelligence (AI) is everywhere now – from recommending videos on your favorite app to helping doctors spot illnesses. Governments are also using AI to make their work faster and more accurate. In Spain, the tax authority wants to use smart computer programs to catch people who might be cheating on their taxes.

The New Draft Law

On June 12, 2026, Spain published a draft Organic Law that tries to set rules for how AI should be used. The main goal is to protect citizens when AI systems could affect health or basic rights. The law wants a clear system of supervision and a set of penalties for misuse.

What the Law Says

One part of the draft modifies Article 116 of the General Tax Law (LGT). It says that the details of any automated, algorithmic, or AI system used by the Tax Administration to fight tax fraud must stay secret.

The Secrecy Rule

Under this rule:

• The information about how the AI works will not be made public.
• Taxpayers will not be told why they were selected for a review.
• Even the tax officials might not know if the data used was obtained legally.

Why This Could Be a Problem

Secrecy sounds like a way to protect the tools, but it also hides important details from the people affected. Here’s why that matters:

Your Rights at Risk

Spain’s Constitution (Article 24) guarantees the right to a fair trial and to know the evidence against you. If you can’t see why an AI chose you or what data it used, you can’t properly defend yourself.

The Paradox

The draft law claims to protect fundamental rights, yet the secrecy rule could actually violate them. Critics joke that “real stupidity always defeats artificial intelligence,” pointing out that hiding how AI works can lead to unfair outcomes.

What Experts Say

Legal scholars warn that extending secrecy beyond simple tax control plans goes too far. They argue that transparency is needed so taxpayers can challenge decisions and trust the system.

What Can You Do?

• Stay informed – follow news about AI and tax laws.
• Ask questions – if you ever get a tax notice, you have the right to know the basis for it.
• Support groups that push for clear, fair rules on AI use.

Conclusion

AI can make tax collection smarter, but it shouldn’t come at the cost of basic fairness. The proposed Spanish law tries to guard the tax authority’s tools, but by hiding how those tools work it may end up hurting the very rights it claims to protect. As technology keeps evolving, we need rules that keep both innovation and justice in balance.

Source

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