Do you want something to do on Halloween that is more satisfying than scary? Come along and help Eco Amigos with their latest clean-up, and keep litter out of the Mediterranean before the autumn downpours do their worst. This time the team is heading for the spots where heavy rain is most likely to sweep man-made rubbish and debris straight into the sea, and every extra pair of hands will make a real difference.

When and where is the Sabinillas clean-up?

Saturday, October 31 is the one to pencil in and not just for trick or treating, the session runs from 10am to 11.30am and all volunteers should meet outside Chirringuito El Paseo.

Litter-pickers will cover the zone running from the Manilva river down to the sea, taking in Playa de San Luis de Sabinillas. It is a smart choice of location, because riverbeds and drainage channels carry whatever has been dropped inland towards the shore once the rain arrives. Clearing them first stops the problem at its source.

What will Eco Amigos provide?

Organisers will supply bin bags, protective gloves, litter-picking sticks and hand sanitiser, so just turn up and get stuck in. Youngsters are very welcome, which makes this a lovely chance to show children how a little effort keeps a beach beautiful. Dogs, sadly, are not permitted.

Amazing results since 2024

Results speak for themselves. Volunteers have now removed 1,344 large bags of rubbish from natural spaces on the western Costa del Sol since 2024, all of it disposed of properly. Sessions usually take place on Sunday mornings around Casares, Manilva, Estepona and Marbella.

How to join in and help out

Not sure whether it is for you? Message the organisers through the Eco Amigos Facebook group, or visit ecoamigos.net for more information. Bring a friend, bring the kids, and help keep Sabinillas beach looking its best before the rains arrive.

A tiny payment error has caused calls for changes to Spain’s tax rules after a taxpayer faced a hefty surcharge because a payment to the Tax Agency fell just four cents short of the amount owed.

The case has been examined by the Consejo para la Defensa del Contribuyente (Council for the Defence of Taxpayers), an advisory body attached to Spain’s Ministry of Finance. In its 2025 annual report, the council argues that the consequences of such a small mistake can be wildly disproportionate and recommends changes to how certain tax debts are handled.

Why did four cents cause such a problem?

The case involved Modelo 111, the tax form used by businesses and self-employed workers to declare income tax withheld from employees and other recipients. The taxpayer had declared a debt for the third quarter of 2023 but failed to pay it within the original deadline or request a payment extension or installment arrangement. Once the voluntary payment period expired, the debt entered the enforcement stage under Spain’s General Tax Law.

The taxpayer subsequently paid almost the entire amount before receiving formal notification of the enforcement order. However, a small error when entering the payment left four cents outstanding. Under the existing rules, the more favourable 5 per cent executive surcharge applies only when the entire outstanding debt has been paid before the enforcement order is notified.

Because the payment was slightly incomplete, the Tax Agency proceeded with an enforcement order covering the debt. The council acknowledged that the collection authority had applied the legislation as written. Its objection was that the rules left little room to account for an obvious, insignificant error, despite the much larger financial consequences.

Importantly, the original payment deadline had already been missed. The four-cent mistake did not cause the initial late-payment surcharge; it prevented the taxpayer from qualifying for the more favourable rate.

Calls for a ‘right to make a mistake’

The council has recommended that the Ministry of Finance and the Tax Agency introduce consistent proportionality criteria for enforcement surcharges when only a very small amount remains unpaid because of an obvious arithmetic or typing error.

It wants the authorities to consider whether the outstanding sum is genuinely insignificant and whether the taxpayer can demonstrate that the shortfall resulted from a mistake. The proposal includes extending protections to certain errors involving amounts below €3, creating what the council describes as a form of ‘right to make a mistake’ when paying tax debts.

The €3 threshold is not entirely new. A joint resolution issued in November 2022 provided for the cancellation of certain outstanding debts below that amount where the cost of collecting them could outweigh the money recovered. The council argues that a comparable approach should be considered when a taxpayer has paid almost all a debt but made a minor error in the amount transferred.

It has also called for a broader review of Spain’s enforcement surcharge system, including the differences between taxpayers who submit their declarations on time but fail to pay and those who submit them late without first receiving a demand from the authorities.

What does this mean for foreign residents in Spain?

The case is a reminder that meeting a tax deadline and paying the correct amount are two separate requirements. British residents and other foreign nationals with tax obligations in Spain are subject to the applicable Spanish tax rules, just like other taxpayers in comparable circumstances.

Anyone paying a tax bill should check the amount carefully, ensure the payment has gone through and confirm that the full balance has been covered. If a payment is short, even by a small amount, it is worth seeking advice promptly rather than assuming the difference is too minor to matter.

Anyone who receives an enforcement notice should also check the deadline for responding and paying, as the surcharge can depend on whether the conditions for a reduced rate are met.

The council’s recommendations do not automatically change the law. Its annual report does not establish that the surcharge in this case has been cancelled, nor does it confirm that the proposed protections have been adopted.

For now, the case raises a straightforward question for Spain’s tax authorities: should an obvious mistake involving a few cents carry such serious financial consequences when a taxpayer has paid virtually the entire debt?

Bigastro residents are being encouraged to step out together in support of the fight against cancer when the town’s annual Cancer March returns on Sunday, October 25. Now in its 12th year, the event will combine a community walk with workshops and a charity raffle, raising funds for cancer research and support for patients and their families.

Cancer March begins at 10:30 AM

Bigastro will once again turn out in support of the fight against cancer when the town holds its 12th annual Cancer March on Sunday, October 25.

Organised by the local Spanish Association Against Cancer (AECC), the event begins at 10:30 AM from the Huerto del Cura Park. Participants will follow a route through Bigastro before returning to the park for further activities.

The €10 registration fee includes the official event T-shirt, a bottle of water, nuts and other items.

Registration remains open until October 25

Registration remains open until October 25, while those already signed up can collect their T-shirts from the AECC office at Calle Mayor 5 between 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM.

Funds raised will support cancer research and the AECC’s work assisting patients and their families throughout diagnosis and treatment.

The annual march gives residents an opportunity to show their support together while helping raise money for the organisation’s continuing work.

Charity raffle supports cancer fundraising

A charity raffle will also form part of the event, with prizes donated by local businesses.

Tickets cost €1 and are available from the AECC office and participating businesses around Bigastro.

After the walk, activities will continue at the Huerto del Cura Park with workshops and the raffle, extending the event beyond the morning’s route through the town.

Bigastro residents encouraged to take part

AECC Bigastro president Jose Julian Martinez said the event continues the successful format of previous years.

Mayor Teresa Belmonte has also encouraged residents to participate, highlighting the importance of cancer research and community support.

Now reaching its 12th edition, the Cancer March continues to bring Bigastro together around a shared cause while raising funds to support research and people affected by cancer.