Death comes to all, but now, at a price.

The recently announced hike in the rate of Spanish IVA (Value Added Tax) will affect some more than others. School books in Spain, for instance, were taxed, and continue to be, at a low rate of IVA of 4 % (superreducida). School material such as papers, rulers, pencils, crayons, erasers and so on continue to be levied at the reduced rate of IVA, but suffering an increase from 8 % to now 10 %.

It’s worse if you have a death in your family. Funerary expenses in Spain also used to be taxed at 8 % and the cost of funerals should have now gone up to 10 %, being so far a matter within the band of the reduced tax rate. But no. The band of reduced tax rates no longer applies to funerals or cremations as of September 1st, here in Spain. Dying now will be a matter affordable only to the affluent. Funeral expenses will now be charged at the full rate of 21 %, whereas this week and until the end of this month, they are still levied at 8 %. The new regulation will make Spain the most expensive country in Europe for the family of the deceased from next week, tax-wise, with the possible exception of Sweden.

The photo was taken in Felanitx, Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: August 12th, 2012. The time was 18:26:09.