Bill to reward private donors to culture, science and sport with tax breaks

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

1. The bill proposes a new law that brings together in a single text the rules on patronage, understood as any private collaboration in activities of general interest, especially culture, science and amateur sport. Until now those rules were inside Law 49/2002, which would be amended to keep only the rules for nonprofit entities.
2. It expands the ways of collaborating: donations, loans for use, services, debt forgiveness, patents, rights to works, cheap loans or guarantees, among others. It also covers special forms such as micro-patronage (donations of up to 150 euros a year), participatory patronage or crowdfunding, and volunteering.
3. It creates the Patronage Council (Consejo del Mecenazgo), an advisory body attached to the Ministry of Culture and Sport that would draw up a State Patronage Strategy and a White Paper, authorize donations not expressly covered and act as a first-level arbitration body. Its members would serve free of charge and on an honorary basis.
4. For personal income taxincome tax The personal income tax (IRPF in Spain): what people pay on what they earn from work, business or savings., the bill proposes deducting 100% of the first 150 euros donated and 50% of the rest, rising to 55% for collaborations helping vulnerable groups. For corporate tax the deduction would be 50%, capped at 20% of the taxable base.
5. It adds non-tax benefits: publicizing the patron's status, naming spaces or scholarships after them, priority access to events and facilities, discounts at museums, a patron's card and other forms the Council may propose. It would also create a public online register of beneficiary entities.
6. It gives state museums, archives and libraries more autonomy to accept donations, inheritances and legacies, and earmarks their proceeds for preserving and improving their collections. The Government would have one year to approve the implementing regulations and the Council would have to be set up within six months.

Who it affects

• People who donate to or collaborate with cultural, scientific or sports projects: They would get higher tax deductions and public recognition as patrons.
• Corporate patrons: They could deduct 50% of their donation under corporate income tax and use new forms of collaboration.
• Beneficiary entities, such as nonprofits, public universities, museums and research institutes: They could receive more types of donations and appear in a public register of beneficiaries.
• Volunteers: They could deduct their documented expenses, though volunteering itself would carry no tax benefits.
• State museums, archives and libraries: They would gain autonomy to accept donations and manage the assets received.

Words worth knowing

Mecenazgo (patronage)

A private contribution, in money, goods or services, to support activities of general interest such as culture, science or amateur sport.

Micromecenazgo (micro-patronage)

Small cash donations, up to 150 euros per person per year, to the purposes covered by the law.

Herencia yacente (unaccepted inheritance)

An inheritance not yet accepted by the heirs; the bill would allow it to donate with the unanimous agreement of all heirs.

Cuota íntegra (gross tax liability)

The amount resulting from applying the tax rate to the base, before subtracting deductions.

Base imponible (taxable base)

The amount of money on which the tax is calculated.

income tax

The personal income tax (IRPF in Spain): what people pay on what they earn from work, business or savings.

It summarizes the text as it was introduced. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries