Spain Returns Nearly €26 Million In Covid Lockdown Fines After Court Ruling: Are You Due A Refund?

Spain’s Constitutional Court has ordered nan Spanish authorities to refund almost €26 cardinal successful fines dished retired during nan 2020 COVID-19 lockdown. 

This comes aft nan Court ruled parts of nan emergency decrees to beryllium “unconstitutional”, which makes galore of nan fines invalid. If you paid a good for breaking lockdown rules backmost then, you whitethorn beryllium eligible for a afloat refund – and it’s easier than you deliberation to find out.

Why are these COVID lockdown fines being refunded?

During nan tallness of nan pandemic successful 2020, constabulary crossed Spain, from nationalist forces to section municipality officers, issued fines for things for illustration going extracurricular without support aliases gathering successful groups. These were based connected emergency laws, including nan arguable “gag law” (Ley Orgánica 4/2015). But successful July 2021, nan Constitutional Court declared cardinal parts of those lockdown orders invalid because they went excessively acold successful limiting basal authorities for illustration free movement.

The ruling applies retroactively, meaning nan fines were ne'er ineligible from nan start. As a result, nan authorities must return each azygous euro collected. It’s a large deal: elemental and rushed mistakes during a scary clip shouldn’t costs group money years later.

How overmuch money is being returned successful COVID good refunds?

Official records from nan Ministry of Finance show immense advancement successful processing these refunds. Between July 15, 2021 (when nan tribunal determination went public) and October 3, 2025:

• 72,551 fines were cancelled done nan nationalist accounting system
• €25.9 cardinal refunded successful total.

That’s an mean of astir €350 euros per good – existent money that will beryllium invited news to galore pinch bills to pay, groceries, aliases preparations for Christmas. The Ministry of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory reports moreover more: up to 92,278 fines officially wiped retired arsenic of September 2025. The flimsy difference? It takes clip to coordinate refunds crossed national, regional, and section constabulary forces.

Cities for illustration Madrid are stepping up too. In 2022, nan Madrid Council announced it would return €1.7 cardinal from section lockdown fines, calling nan collections “improper”. Many different municipality halls are doing nan same.

Early estimates suggested complete a million fines could beryllium affected nationwide, but not each were challenged successful tribunal correct away. The bully news? Refunds are automatic successful galore cases erstwhile a good is reviewed, and nan process is speeding up.

Who gets a COVID lockdown good refund?

You could qualify if:

• You sewage a good starting March 16, 2020, for COVID restrictions (like stay-at-home orders aliases disguise rules).
• It was based connected nan now-invalid emergency decrees, aliases nan gag law.
• You already paid nan good – unpaid ones are conscionable dropped.

Even if your good was handled by section police, nan court’s determination covers it. Refunds spell backmost to nan original payer, often via slope transfer.

How to cheque if you suffice for a Spain COVID good refund

Wondering if money is coming your way? Here’s a elemental step-by-step guideline to cheque your position – nary lawyer needed, but a integer certificate whitethorn beryllium necessary:

1. Contact Your Local Police aliases Town Hall: Start pinch nan unit that issued your good (e.g., Guardia Civil for nationalist aliases your city’s police). Ask astir “devolución de multas por estado de alarma COVID.” Many person online portals aliases hotlines already group up.
2. Use nan National Revenue Agency (AEAT) Portal: Log successful to your relationship connected nan State Agency for Tax Administration (AEAT) website. Search for “ingresos indebidos” aliases “devoluciones por sanciones COVID”. If eligible, you’ll spot your refund position aliases pending amount.
3. Check pinch nan Ministry of Finance: for national-level fines, sojourn nan Ministry of Finance’s nationalist accusation work and petition specifications connected your lawsuit via their transparency portal. It’s free and straightforward.
4. File a Claim If Needed: If thing shows up, taxable a “reclamación de devolución” shape to nan issuing authority (council, nationalist police, etc). Include your good reference number (from nan original notice). Deadlines vary, but enactment soon – astir claims are processed wrong months.

Pro tip: It is much than apt that nan returned good will conscionable show up successful your slope account. However, if you want to check, support your good documents handy, including costs receipts. If you’re unsure, free ineligible assistance is disposable done section user offices aliases Spain’s justness strategy (Abogacía Española).

What’s adjacent for COVID good refunds successful Spain?

While 73,000+ fines are done, much are successful nan works. The authorities hasn’t said precisely really galore are left, but pinch nan court’s caller displacement (now okaying immoderate emergency limits), attraction is connected wrapping up refunds fairly. This isn’t conscionable astir money – it’s astir spot successful nan strategy during reliable times.