3.2.3. Evolution of income for Special Taxes

In 2019, revenue from Special Taxes grew by 4.1 percent, but the increase was due exclusively to the integration of the old regional rate into the special rate of the Hydrocarbon Tax. Revenues would have declined by 0.8 percent without any regulatory changes.

Revenues from the Hydrocarbon Tax (after subtracting the net impact of regulatory changes) increased by 0.3 percent. Consumption of gasoline and diesel fuel increased by around 0.5 percent, while consumption of other products (subsidized diesel fuel, natural gas) decreased. In 2019, revenues from the Tobacco Tax fell again, this time by 1.3 percent (-1.4 percent in 2018). With no changes in rates and stable prices, the explanations for this new drop are lower consumption and the shift towards less taxed jobs. Regarding other revenues, revenues from the Electricity Tax grew by 1.8 percent, due both to the decrease in consumption compared to the previous year and to the decrease in prices in the latter part of the year, compared to the increase experienced in the second half of 2018. Coal tax revenues fell by 48.7 percent. Coal ceased to be attractive in energy production when Royal Decree-Law 15/2018 began to consider natural gas consumption for the same purpose as exempt. The intentions to gradually abandon this form of production announced by the major operators may also have had an effect this year. Finally, the collection of the Tax on Alcohol and derived beverages registered a loss of income of 2.4 percent (-2.2 percent in 2018), while income from the Tax on Beer increased by 4 percent.