Thousands of residents in Spain to get rubbish tax refunds after court ruling

Thousands of taxpayers in Spain are set to receive refunds on a local rubbish collection charge after a court ruled that the municipal ordinance governing it was unlawful. More than 35,000 payments are affected, with approximately €5 million collected under the disputed scheme.

In an official announcement published on October 14, the council confirmed that it would begin further administrative procedures this week, following confirmation that the court judgment had become final.

The court’s ruling does not mean that garbage fees are no longer a tax in Spain. This is a municipal ordinance in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. This case might be worth watching by other property owners who are being subjected to the same fees.

Why is Las Palmas refunding its rubbish collection tax?

The issue of contention is a city charge that was established by ordinance in April 2025 for the pickup, transportation, and disposal of household garbage.

The High Court of Justice of the Canary Islands (TSJC) ruled that the municipal ordinance was unlawful.

The ruling was about the legal and technical reasons for imposing the local charge and distributing it among taxpayers. This ruling did not overturn Spain’s general legal obligation for municipalities to set up waste management charges.

The city council announced in July that it would not be appealing the ruling and instead would organize for any payments already made to be returned.

According to information provided by the municipality at the time, 169,105 tax bills had been approved, and 35,002 had been paid. The total amount collected was around €5 million.

The latest update was after the council’s confirmation on October 8 that the judgment is final.The administrative process is expected to begin towards the end of this week.

However, it does not mean that all the taxpayers who are affected by the tax will be paid immediately. The council described the process as complex due to the number of cases.

Who can claim a rubbish tax refund in Las Palmas?

The taxpayer’s rights to a refund depend on whether the taxpayer has already paid the charge and whether the time for challenging the assessment is still open.

According to the city council of Las Palmas, citizens who paid the tax and are still within the appeal period can request a refund.

The deadline for submitting an administrative appeal is generally one month from the day after the tax assessment was notified. For taxpayers who voluntarily accessed the online tax office and paid the charge, the period begins on the day after payment.

The municipality has prepared standard forms to help taxpayers submit their appeals.

The situation for those whose appeal deadlines have already passed is different. The council has indicated that there is no need to file a new application, as the administration will review their cases.

The outstanding charges on those taxpayers who arranged to pay in instalments have also been suspended. The instalment payments already made must be returned through the administrative procedure.

The refunds therefore only relate to the people who have paid the affected charge, rather than all the property owners or residents in the city.

How to request a rubbish tax refund in Las Palmas

Residents who need to make an appeal can use the Las Palmas Online Tax Office . This is where information about cancelling the waste fee and how to request a refund will be available. The council has also provided help through its taxpayer service offices, municipal offices and district offices.

The people who request a refund are normally required to provide evidence that the charge has been paid and a proof of a bank account in their name or a joint bank account.

Businesses may need to provide additional documentation. Residents can also call the municipal information line at 010, or 928 446 600 from outside the municipality.

The council has not yet set a date for the payment of all refunds. The time it takes will depend on how the affected assessment is reviewed by the administration and how each taxpayer’s individual situation is.

The decree that was abolished has been cancelled, but that does not mean Las Palmas will stop charging for waste collection permanently.

Spanish law mandates municipalities to have a set fee for waste management services, and the city council has said that they will draft a new ordinance with all legal requirements. The first priority for those who have already paid is to get back the money collected under the aborted scheme.

The latest announcement brings Las Palmas a step closer to returning approximately €5 million collected under the annulled tax scheme. However, with thousands of payments to review, the council has not yet confirmed when all affected taxpayers will receive their refunds.