A FRESH APPROACH TO TAX AND ACCOUNTING IN SPAIN

The founding partners of Advoco - London-trained Chartered Accountant James Baker and Granada-based Spanish contable Manuel Pedregosa - share a common ambition: to provide English-speaking clients with a service sufficiently attentive and efficient that they forget about the (deservedly) bad reputation Spain has for its fiscal system.

When you mention Spanish tax to a foreigner forced to deal with the system here in Spain, the initial reaction usually ranges from weary resignation to bemusement.  It's not so much that the regime is unduly harsh or tax rates particularly punitive, because other European countries, including the UK, are stricter and more expensive as a general rule.  The roots of the frustration lie in the mystifying complexity of the rules, the conflicting messages received and the impenetrability of the many layered bureaucracy.

Traditionally Spanish advisers have not been helpful in guiding the foreign community through the maze.  When Advoco was first devised we asked people what they didn't like about their existing accountants and the answers were usually along the following lines:

- communication.  Not being able to explain their problems to the professional supposed to be helping them or not having things explained to them.

- responsiveness.  Long delays between requesting a service and seeing the results.  Not answering calls or emails.  Missing deadlines.

- charges.  Too high for routine matters and not agreed or even disclosed upfront for more complex matters.

The Advoco approach

In devising an approach to counteract some of these criticisms, James and Manolo decided on a three part strategy.

Anglo-Spanish cooperation

Having jointly dealt with a large number of clients locally over the years, they realised that it was the combination of English service and communication and Spanish expertise which the client base appreciated.  When they launched Advoco - an extension of the service they had been offering on a small scale to a national and online client base - they aimed to recreate the same combination.  Every client receives service in English throughout.  The website contains a large amount of self-help information in English.  A British accountant will always "front" the service to clients, so there will never be communication breakdowns and both client and adviser will know exactly where they stand.  However behind this there is a large amount of native Spanish expertise.

Advoco is the online, English-speaking division of GECASA SL, a major Spanish legal and accounting firm with a team of spanish qualified professionals and a large Spanish client base.  A foreign client will thus deal with an English-speaker but, if the need arises, they will also have access to decades of local experience and an unrivalled network of contacts.

Online Service

The answer to the responsiveness criticisms was to bring Spanish tax and accounting into the 21st century by offering practically every service online.  GECASA is based in Granada and this is where all client records are kept and processing carried out, but the interaction with clients is carried out almost exclusively online, so clients can be based almost anywhere.  Besides allowing Advoco to offer personal and business tax services all over Spain (and beyond since we advise companies and individuals from abroad thinking of relocating or with other interests in Spain), it means that the client can receive advice and keep up to date with their tax obligations without leaving their home.  Our commitment to turn round emails within a day means that undue delay or frustrating periods of inaction are far less likely to occur.

Open Pricing policy

In our experience, professional fees generate an unecessary level of anxiety among clients. The problem is not so much fees being too high (though they often are), it is the not knowing in advance how much it is all going to cost. Our “no surprises” pricing is designed to take the stress out of fees:

Services charged on a fixed fee basis where possible

All clients can request a Service Plan in advance, including a no obligation fee estimate, breaking down likely costs and charges

No additional hours worked or costs incurred without firstly seeking client approval.