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16:43 Jan 21, 2013
Spanish to English translations [PRO] Bus/Financial - Law: Taxation & Customs / Personal Income Tax
Spanish term or phrase:(Régimen de) estimación simplificada
I have found two different translations for this term:
We are not "converting" or "localising" the term into the UK or US system here. The plain translation ought to be adequate. It is for the reader to find out how the Spanish system works, if he or she needs to, not the translator's function.
"Estimación objetiva simplificada" system was (is?) certainly used extensively, along with a third option (estimación por coeficientes), although it may not currently be in use (tax rules may change each year, which is another headache for translators). At any rate, there are many internet references to the "régimen objetiva simplificada such as this one: "En el régimen de Estimación directa normal se consideran como deducibles todos los producidos que estén vinculados con la actividad, señalando los siguientes:
Compras y otros consumos de la explotación.
Sueldos y Salarios, seguridad social a cargo de la empresa, autónomos
Otros gastos de personal.
Arrendamientos, gastos de reparación, servicios profesionales, financieros.
Amortizaciones y provisiones.
Otros gastos.
En la estimación objetiva simplificada la diferencia fundamental es que los gastos de difícil justificación y las provisiones se consideran aplicadas mediante el porcentaje del 5% sobre el rendimiento neto positivo. Además, en cada régimen la tabla de amortización es distinta. http://ganaloquequieras.biz/blogs/?p=3428
Your text may certainly refer to estimación directa simplificada, but you will know from the context.
With the greatest of respect, I feel you're massively overcomplicating things. The UK and US tax systems are irrelevant, though they both have estimated tax regimes too. I don't see how you can tell us that "estimación" doesn't mean "estimate". This phrase has a simple, literal and exact equivalent in English, and in my opinion it would be wrong to translate it in any other way.
In legal translation there is often no "right" translation as there might be in certain types of technical texts. When trying to translate from different legal systems translators often have to look for similar concepts, functional equivalents, etc. And when there is not even a similar concept to refer to (which is very common when translating patently civil law terms for readers from common law jurisdictions), sometimes a "descriptive translation" will be the only recourse. In my experience the two areas in which there are very few "functional equivalents" are tax law and inheritance law. But as I mentioned before, if you do find what you consider the "right" translation for your term, please post it. Thanks
I, too, do my quarterly return in Spain, but I do not estimate my taxes; I calculate them. At the end of the tax period, like you, I do a final summary calculation. Notice the procedure for each quarterly return is practically the same as for the final VAT summary return, since all are caculations, not estimations: an estimation is a rough calculation; If you've done your quarterly return here, you'll notice it's certainly no rough calculation! I did indeed notice you used the term 'calculation' further along, but you did write 'estimation' when stating "Anyone already familiar with Spanish taxes would already understand what "simplified estimated tax scheme" refers to" and simply wanted to make it clear that taxes are not estimated; hence the note. As for the US, I am unaware of how the tax system works there, and the same goes for the UK, which is why I asked in the first place. Your explanation of the process has definitely been very helpful, and I thank you for that. I am indeed hoping someone will share the right answer to my question with all of us :)
Thanks for the comment that taxes are not "estimated" but rather "calculated." But in the context of taxing the self-employed (as in your text), taxes are indeed estimated, since the final taxes to be paid cannot be calculated until the end of the year when one actually knows what his final gross income has been. That's why in the US the quarterly income tax paid by the self-employed is actually called "estimated tax." Your translation concerns how the quarterly tax for the self-employed is calculated in Spain and the methods used have been sufficiently explained here. I am more than familiar with this since I am myself self-employed in Spain and have to calculate my estimated tax each quarter until the 4th quarter comes around and I can finally calculate whether the tax man owes me for overpayment or whether I still owe him. In other respects, in my answer I actually avoided the word "estimate" and offered "simplified self-employment tax CALCULATION scheme", which is obviously a descriptive rendering. I doubt you will find a snappy two-word equivalent for the concept in English, but if you do, please share it with us!
Just ANY Spanish Tax Agency website entry that says '(régimen de) estimación simplificada'. And I mean any and I place the brakets because both terms can be found and what I need to know is if it always means the same and what it translates for, if it depends on context.
Translation does depend on the context, which is why I'm asking you for it. I don't know whether your two references are context because the first URL has been truncated and the second comes up on my computer as a non-trusted site. Context means one or more sentences containing the phrase.
Thanks. I have not forgotten; I want to know if translation depends on the context, within the field of taxation. That is why I have opted for closing in on the field.
This is not a term to be translated literally; it is a very specific term which requires a very specific translation. Obvious is not always the answer, especially when it comes to the Tax Agency, I'm afraid...
This is just a suggestion, but rather than a literal translation, for those not familiar with the Spanish tax system perhaps a descriptive rendering would be preferable. Anyone already familiar with Spanish taxes would already understand what "simplified estimated tax scheme" refers to and the information Andy has provided is quite clear. But perhaps it would be best to somehow reflect that the "régimen de estimación simplificada" is a simplified version of one of the systems ("estimación directa"/"estimación objetiva-módulos") that the self-employed in Spain have for calculating the advance payments they must make to the tax man each quarter.
This is explained briefly here:
If you wish to register yourself on Autonomos, there are certain steps to be taken, as follows:
1. The first thing you should do is obtain your NIE number (see Residency & Tax: Fiscal Identity Numbers).
2. You will need to apply for a Tax Licence for the work activity to be followed. This can be obtained from the SUMA Office in the town where your work activity will be centred, or Town Hall (Ayuntamiento) as appropriate.
3. You will need to complete and present a 037 form, which is stamped by the Tax Office and confirms the method of payment of your taxes. There are two methods of paying tax:
a) You make quarterly VAT and Income Tax Declarations on the “direct estimations method”, which means you have to start double entry system book-keeping, or hire the services of an accountant, or
b) You pay a quarterly fixed income tax & VAT amount under the "modulos" system.
Both systems have their advantages; a) is a good method if you think your custom is going to fluctuate to a significant degree, as income tax & VAT is only paid on your actual profit/earnings.
Modulos payments do not take into consideration whether you have had a good or bad month, as you pay the same fixed amount, even if you have zero income. Also, under the modulos system, there is no need to keep accounts or prepare numbered VAT invoices, etc. On the other hand, once your business is established and turnover increases you may well benefit from having a tax system whose payments were set at a basic level.
As Andy also indicated, the text to be translated omits vital information: whether the reference is to the "directa" or "objetiva" scheme, but that may be clear from another part of your text.
Hope some of this helps!
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 16 hrs (2013-01-22 09:00:44 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Yes, indeed, as Andy mentioned, there are simplified versions of both the direct and objective systems.
Rebecca Jowers Spain Local time: 16:39 Specializes in field Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 76
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you Rebecca. It seems to be that this simplified calculation system actually englobes both the direct and the objective modes, as the TAx Agency states:
"Object
Return form to be filed by individuals who carry out activities under the objective evaluation system. Other than the exceptions established under the prevailing regulations, this form must also be filed by individuals who carry out agricultural, livestock farming, forestry and fishery activities under the objective evaluation system, normal or simplified modality." (https://www.agenciatributaria.gob.es/AEAT.sede/en_gb/procedimientos/G602.shtml). Check out the regulation quoted at the bottom of the page ("Normativa básica").
Asker: Even though a correct translation has not been provided, this answer provides the best explanation for what the term stands for. Note taxes are NOT estimaded but CALCULATED, therefore the term 'estimation' would be incorrect here (as seen in the first paragraph). Thanks for the help!
Reference: Any Agencia Tributaria website, as asker says.
Reference information: Not enough time for full explanation.
Form 130. IRPF (Personal Income Tax). Companies and professional
taxed under the direct evaluation system. Instalments.
Form 131. IRPF (Personal Income Tax). Companies and professionals
taxed under the objective evaluation system. Instalments.
The 2 basic systems (there a many) for IRPF are:
- estimación directa and,
- estimación objetiva
Both AFAIK have a simplified versión.
In the first, your tax assessments/evaluations are based directly on your billing & outgoing, etc...
In the second (used for bars, eg), this assessment is calculated using other factors - eg. Size of premises, electricity consumption, water, suppliers' bills and others.... Which is then applied at a flat rate.
ie. "simplified" is merely a subcategory of one of the above.
I couldn't translate this as the vital difference is missing: directa o objetiva.
Andy Watkinson Spain Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 8
Note to reference poster
Asker: Both the direct and the objective system can be followed under the simplified scheme. The context does not specify which one,therefore it must be understood it refers to either one. The question is, does this concept exist in UK Treasury?
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