New Valencia City Council Waste Collection Charge: Payment and Direct Debit
Valencia City Council has begun issuing notices for the new Charge for the Municipal Collection and Transport of Solid Urban Waste, commonly referred to as the waste collection charge, refuse collection charge or rubbish collection charge.
This charge is a municipal levy that is separate from Property Tax —IBI— and is also different from the TAMER charge included in water bills.
This tax should be around 40-80 EUR/year (to be confirmed) by property.
Why has this new charge been introduced?
The charge originates from Law 7/2022 of 8 April on Waste and Contaminated Soil for a Circular Economy.
This legislation requires local councils to establish a specific charge intended to cover the cost of collecting and transporting municipal waste.
In Valencia, the relevant municipal tax ordinance entered into force for the 2025 tax year. However, because this is a newly introduced charge, the first individual assessments are being notified during 2026.
Who is required to pay it?
As a general rule, the person primarily liable to Valencia City Council is the owner of the property as at 1 January of the relevant year.
Even where the property is rented out, the assessment will normally be issued to the owner. The owner may subsequently pass the cost on to the occupant or tenant where this is legally and contractually permitted.
Where a property is jointly owned, the assessment will be linked to the person or persons recorded in the municipal tax records. In most cases, the procedure can be carried out by the person shown as the main holder of the IBI bill or of the waste charge itself.
Is this the same charge that appears on the water bill?
No.
There may currently be two separate waste-related charges:
Municipal waste collection and transport charge
This is the new charge administered by Valencia City Council. It finances the collection of waste and its transport to the relevant facilities.
TAMER charge
This is a charge levied by the Metropolitan Waste Treatment Authority —EMTRE— and collected through the water bill. It finances the subsequent treatment, recovery and disposal of waste.
Therefore, paying the TAMER charge through the water bill does not replace the obligation to pay the new municipal waste collection charge.
How is the amount calculated?
The amount is determined mainly by the level of mains water consumption recorded during the previous year.
Different consumption bands apply to residential properties. As a result, the amount payable may vary from one property to another.
The charge may still be payable where the property is temporarily unoccupied, provided that it has a water supply, because the municipal waste collection and transport service remains available.
When must it be paid?
As this is the first year of implementation, the City Council is issuing an individual assessment to each liable taxpayer.
The specific payment deadline appears in the notice itself. It is important to check the date on which the notice is received and to make payment within the stated voluntary payment period.
Failure to pay within the deadline may result in the debt entering the enforcement stage, with the corresponding surcharges, interest and, where applicable, recovery proceedings.
Is it compulsory to set up a direct debit?
No. What is compulsory is paying the charge within the applicable deadline.
However, setting up a direct debit is advisable so that charges for future years are automatically collected from the designated bank account. This helps prevent missed payments, surcharges and enforcement proceedings.
The direct debit for this charge is separate from the direct debit for IBI, water or any other taxes or utility bills. Therefore, even where the IBI, water and electricity payments were arranged previously, the new waste collection charge could not have been included because it did not yet exist.
The first assessment must be paid separately
The direct debit does not automatically apply to the first assessment.
The City Council provides that the direct debit will take effect once the first assessment has been issued, notified and paid.
Accordingly, two separate steps are required:
Pay the first assessment within the stated deadline.
Apply for the future annual charges to be collected by direct debit.
Submitting a direct debit application does not necessarily mean that the first assessment will be automatically charged to the nominated bank account.
How can the property owner deal with the procedure?
The owner has the following options:
Option 1. Complete the procedure personally online
A person who has a digital certificate or electronic Spanish identity card —DNI electrónico— may access the City Council’s electronic office and:
View the assessment.
Check the amount payable.
Make the payment.
Download the payment document.
Apply for direct debit for future years.
Option 2. Complete the procedure in person
The interested party may attend the relevant Valencia City Council office, provide identification, pay or deal with the assessment and submit the direct debit application.
It is advisable to check in advance whether an appointment is required and which documents must be provided.
Option 3. Instruct our law firm to deal with the matter
Our law firm can review the assessment, make or arrange the payment and submit the direct debit application under the appropriate power of attorney or written authorisation.
The cost will depend on whether the client has a digital certificate and how that certificate was obtained.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was this charge not set up by direct debit when I purchased the property?
Because the municipal charge did not yet exist when the initial changes of account holder and direct debit arrangements for water, electricity and IBI were completed.
It was not possible to arrange a direct debit for a tax or charge that had not yet been introduced or added to the municipal tax register.
My IBI is already paid by direct debit. Will this charge be collected from the same bank account?
Not necessarily.
The new charge has its own direct debit procedure. The bank account used for IBI does not automatically apply to the waste collection charge.
A separate direct debit application must therefore be submitted for this new charge.
Do I have to pay the first assessment even if I apply for direct debit now?
Yes.
The first assessment must be paid in accordance with the instructions included in the notice. The direct debit will apply to subsequent annual charges once it has been correctly registered by the City Council.
Can I make the payment without a digital certificate?
Yes.
The City Council allows payment using the payment document, through collaborating financial institutions and through its authorised online payment gateway. Certain enquiries and procedures may also be completed using the details shown on the assessment notice.
However, submitting an electronic direct debit application on behalf of the registered taxpayer will normally require a valid electronic identification and signature system.
Can the law firm deal with the procedure under an authorisation?
Yes.
We may act under a power of attorney, representation or written authorisation, depending on the method used and the requirements established by the City Council.
The relevant bank documents will also be required, such as a bank account ownership certificate or authorisation from the account holder where the account belongs to a different person.
Must the bank account belong to the person liable for the charge?
Not necessarily.
Where the bank account belongs to another person, the City Council may require express authorisation from the account holder, a copy of their identity document and the relevant bank documentation.
What happens if I do not pay within the deadline?
The debt may enter the enforcement stage.
This may result in surcharges, late-payment interest and, if the debt remains unpaid, enforcement measures against bank accounts or other assets.
Is the charge payable every year?
Yes. It is an annual recurring municipal charge.
For this reason, we recommend arranging the direct debit once the first assessment has been paid.
Do I have to set up the direct debit every year?
No.
The direct debit is a one-off procedure and will continue to apply to future annual charges unless it is cancelled, the bank account is changed or the tax circumstances of the property are modified.
What happens if I sell the property?
As a general rule, the person liable will be the person who owns the property on 1 January of the relevant year.
However, in a property sale, it is advisable to check the status of any outstanding or current assessments and to regulate any allocation of costs between seller and buyer in the sale contract.
Is the charge payable if the property is empty?
As a general rule, yes, provided that the property has a water supply and is capable of receiving the municipal service.
Temporary non-occupation does not automatically remove the obligation to pay.
Can the bill be divided between several owners?
The bill is not automatically divided merely because the property has several joint owners.
Where the owners wish to change the named recipient, divide the bill or amend the tax records, a specific application must be submitted and it will be necessary to confirm whether the City Council permits the requested change in the particular circumstances.
Final recommendation
Property owners who receive the new assessment should:
Check who is named as the liable person.
Review the amount and the payment deadline.
Pay the first assessment within the voluntary payment period.
Apply for direct debit for future annual charges.
Retain the payment receipt and proof of submission of the direct debit application.
Our law firm can handle the entire procedure under the appropriate authorisation or representation.