Soledad Fernández, director general of Spain’s Tax Agency (AEAT), will step down shortly, along with two other senior officials, after asking to be replaced.
Why now
According to the Ministry of Finance, Fernández had requested to be relieved of her post several months ago, and it was agreed that the change would wait until the end of the annual income tax campaign, so as not to disrupt the process. The ministry insists there is no crisis or scandal behind the departures and that the change is an orderly, planned transition.
Her career
Fernández took over as head of the Tax Agency in 2022, succeeding Jesús Gascón. Before that, she had been the agency’s special delegate in Madrid since 2018.
She is a career civil servant with long experience in tax administration, and has held a number of senior posts, including:
- president of the Central Economic-Administrative Court;
- director of the agency’s tax management department;
- director of the School of Public Finance;
- the agency’s special delegate in Asturias.
Her tenure
During her time in charge, the agency launched its 2024–2027 strategic plan, which aims to make it easier for taxpayers to deal with the administration through the channels and at the times that suit them, while strengthening the fight against tax fraud.
What happens next
The government is expected to appoint a replacement soon. In the meantime, the agency’s day-to-day work will continue as normal.
Why it matters
The Tax Agency is one of the most important institutions of the Spanish state, responsible for collecting most taxes and fighting fraud. Changes at the top are closely watched, both because of the agency’s influence on public finances and because of its role in politically sensitive investigations. The ministry’s emphasis on the planned nature of the change is an attempt to head off speculation about other reasons for the departures.
