The Spanish taxman has declared WAR on Brits - they are luring people to the country in a massive con trick... then do one thing that will financially ruin you, warns ROBERT AMSTERDAM

American lawyer Robert Amsterdam has been inundated with messages from expats to Spain successful caller months, appealing for assistance aft having their lives turned upside-down by abrupt changes to their taxation regime.

Mr Amsterdam, a governmental lawyer, says helium has since uncovered a overmuch deeper occupation wrong the Spanish bureaucracy, leaving scores of radical millions of pounds retired of pocket.

Where affluent expats were erstwhile courted by Spain nether a taxation inaugural known arsenic Beckham's Law, offering a reduced load connected Spanish-sourced income, galore are present reporting abrupt hikes successful their taxation obligations, leaving them facing fiscal 'ruin'.

Writing for MailOnline, Mr Amsterdam argues that Spanish auditors person 'declared war' connected Brits and different foreigners who moved to the state nether the committedness of a favourable taxation authorities - lone to person it ripped distant from them.

The Spanish taxman has declared warfare connected Brits and different 'foreigners' who moved to Spain to work. The Hacienda operates successful ways that would marque HMRC blush. Its morals look caller from the jungle.

Mr Amsterdam, a governmental lawyer, lone took connected the lawsuit to assistance immoderate friends. But helium says helium has since uncovered a overmuch deeper occupation wrong the Spanish bureaucracy, leaving scores of radical millions of pounds retired of pocket.

Where affluent expats were erstwhile courted by Spain nether a taxation inaugural known arsenic Beckham's Law, offering a reduced load connected Spanish-sourced income, galore are present reporting abrupt hikes successful their taxation obligations, leaving them facing fiscal 'ruin'.

We've been investigating a peculiar scam that lures overseas workers to Spain with taxation breaks. Which past evaporate. A monolithic con trick.

It’s known arsenic the Beckham’s Law. Introduced successful 2004, it was designed to entice employers to transportation employees to Spain successful a bid to expanse up apical endowment from abroad.

Foreigners connected large salaries, similar David Beckham during his determination to Real Madrid, could payment from immense taxation savings connected their Spanish income if they registered to unrecorded successful Spain.

It sounds bully connected paper. And it looks real. But it's a trap. We've interviewed dozens of victims who accidental their lives person been ruined aft being promised the world, and past had it taken away.

The scam works similar this…

Your leader wants you to enactment successful Spain. Great! Sunshine, bully food, a much leisurely lifestyle. What could beryllium incorrect with that? The taxation authority. That's what.

They've conned your leader and lured you with little income taxation connected your wage – mostly 24% - and they won't taxation investments you person extracurricular Spain.

So you spell there. Who wouldn't?

It's each good for a fewer years. Then the temper euphony changes. And a nightmare begins.

The missive done the door. The taxman's emotion letter: we're going to audit you. For each twelvemonth we inactive can. Look guardant to a adjacent narration with us…

They inquire for each scrap of accusation you possess. Not conscionable astir your wage and your occupation – astir overseas investments arsenic well.

Hang connected – you said you wouldn't taxation those. Well, present it's a antithetic story.

We person heard from scores of radical who accidental that they person had their Beckham Law presumption withdrawn without explanation.

It's past retroactively charged with backmost taxes to said periods, wholly extracurricular the semblance of the regularisation of law.

Expats who moved to Spain nether the committedness of 1 declaration with the authorities present fearfulness fiscal ruin, having seen it torn up overnight.

In immoderate cases, expats are near hundreds of thousands of pounds retired of pocket.

People person besides been near profoundly disturbed by the relentless probes. One had a bosom onslaught nether the unit of being audited by the authorities.

The auditors doorstop your dentist, your gym. They harass your kids' school. Interview the headmaster. Do your kids talk bully Spanish? Were you a bully parent? Wow! If you resist, they slap you with a punishment announcement for obstruction. 10,000 euros. That's much than £8,000!

The Spanish taxation inspectors person a bonus scheme. You mightiness deliberation it could power their behaviour. They accidental you ne'er qualified for the taxation breaks. But they gave you a Certificate. They spell for taxation and penalties (typically 125% of the tax) and interest.

Remember, they've deed you late, truthful you beryllium a batch of interest. If you don't pay, they prehend your assets. Freeze your slope accounts.

If you entreaty – bully luck – it tin instrumentality 8 years. There's a celebrated lawsuit that took 25 years. Until past you've got nary money.

Your advisers person been nobbled. They archer you to wage up. Otherwise, it'll beryllium the transgression court. The taxation authorization volition bash that. The fines. The menace of making you a criminal. You're not but it doesn't look to matter.

It's a scandal. It's outgo radical their wellness and astir of their cash!

If that sounds horribly acquainted to you, fto america know. We're moving to get this con instrumentality stopped. Spanish courts. European Courts. Every mode that's possible.

Why are they ruining people? Wrecking their lives? To gain themselves a bonus.