Alicante province
Spanish letters from the Costa Blanca, explained
The Costa Blanca is home to the largest Dutch-speaking community in Spain. Almost all municipal taxes in the province of Alicante are collected by a single organisation: SUMA. That makes the post recognisable, but also confusing — SUMA sends the letter, while the town hall issues the assessment.
- Torrevieja
- Orihuela Costa
- Benidorm
- Dénia
- Jávea
- Calpe
- Altea
- Guardamar
What works differently in this region
- 01
SUMA collects on behalf of nearly every municipality in Alicante province: property tax, waste charges, vehicle tax and sewerage all arrive on one bill.
- 02
Torrevieja and Orihuela Costa have many foreign owners; assessments often go to a Spanish address where nobody lives, so deadlines pass unnoticed.
- 03
If you do not pay, SUMA adds a recargo of 5%, 10% or 20% depending on how late you are. That explains an amount higher than the original assessment.
- 04
The Diputación de Alicante handles enforcement once SUMA transfers the file — that is when a bank account seizure follows.
Who sends you post?
- SUMA Gestión Tributaria
- Collects property, waste, vehicle and sewerage taxes for Alicante municipalities.
- Diputación Provincial de Alicante
- Provincial enforcement and seizures.
- Ayuntamiento de Torrevieja
- Municipal fines, permits and padrón registration.
Questions from this region
Why do I get post from SUMA and not from my town hall?
Your municipality issues the tax but has outsourced collection to SUMA, the collection body for Alicante province. You normally file an objection with SUMA, unless the letter names a different authority.
My assessment is higher than last year. How is that possible?
Usually this is a revision of the cadastral value (valor catastral), or a recargo because an earlier bill was paid late. The letter states which of the two applies.
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