More than 650 inspectors from the State Tax Agency from all over the country will meet on October 29 and 30 at the Congress Palace in Toledo to reflect on the use of taxes, the importance of public services, and respect for tax obligations.
Under the slogan "Taxes: where do our resources go? The value of the public and tax compliance," the XXXVI Congress of the Association of State Tax Inspectors (IHE) will focus on the future of the tax system, the degree of trust of citizens in institutions, and the relevance of information in the tax field.
"This annual IHE congress comes at a time when defending a strong tax administration and the rule of law is essential to guarantee the equality of all citizens before the tax system and the effectiveness in the fight against fraud," the association has stated in a note released to the media.
The opening session will be held on Thursday, the 29th, and will feature the participation of the Minister of Finance, Arcadi España; the Secretary of State for Finance, Jesús Gascón; the president of IHE, Ana de la Herrán, and the deputy mayor and councilor for Finance and European Funds of Toledo, Juan José Alcalde Saugar, along with other invited authorities.
The last time a Minister of Finance attended this Congress was in 2019. At that time, María Jesús Montero, with the Government of Pedro Sánchez in office, attended the meeting held in Zaragoza. In the following years —from 2020 to 2025—, despite continuing to lead the Ministry, she declined the invitation from the organization.
Throughout the two days, three round tables and an interview are planned, in which specialists from the academic field, tax advisory, and tax inspection will participate, as well as senior officials from the Administration and representatives of professional associations from Spain, Portugal, and Brazil.
In this context, the slogan of the congress emphasizes the need for tax education: to convey to citizens what their taxes are used for and why tax compliance is essential to sustain public services. The program also includes the analysis of misinformation in tax matters and the use of data and artificial intelligence in the Administration.
All these issues, among others, will be addressed at this annual forum, where the tax inspectors will reaffirm their commitment to a unique, demanding, and independent tax administration, oriented towards the general interest.
The Association of State Tax Inspectors has been warning for years about the dangers of a possible fragmentation of the Tax Agency and the breaking of the common fund, and advocates maintaining a high level of demand in access to the inspection body against the so-called "express competitions".
The closing of the Congress, on Friday, October 30, will be presided over by the president of the association, Ana de la Herrán, and by the general director of the Tax Agency, Antonio Ansón Latorre, who took over the direction last July.