Two jobs, one tax mistake: why Spain's tax agency withholds more from your pay

The rower with two jobs who cries before Spain's tax agency: the two-payer mistake

Why does a worker with two jobs end up paying more tax than expected? The story of a Spanish rower who juggles two jobs with no days off, Monday to Sunday, and who ended up in tears at the surprise in his income tax return, has peine the debate about the withholding system.

The two-payer mistake

When a person has more than one employer, each one applies income tax withholding as if it were the only one. The result: both withhold at the lowest bracket, and when total income is added up, the taxpayer ends up in a higher bracket. The difference is paid in the tax return, sometimes with interest. In the rower's case, the figure was painful enough for the video to go viral.

The comments on social media pull no punches: "2 payers. Fatal mistake," reads one of the most shared messages. And the fact is, although it may seem obvious, many workers do not tell their employers they have another job, and the tax agency does not warn them.

The worker's fault or the system's?

Some argue the worker should have adjusted his withholdings, but others point out that the system should be more transparent. The unions, for their part, do not come out well: they are accused of failing to inform members about these risks. "We need fully independent unions," reads another comment, referring to the lack of real support.

Meanwhile, the rower keeps rowing, literally. With two jobs and no holidays, his story is an example of how hard work does not always translate into tax peace of mind. The next time someone complains that the taxman is relentless, remember that sometimes the enemy is on your own payslip.