Sánchez and the VAT pledge for the self-employed: how does it affect your wallet and the much-anticipated iPhone 16 Pro Max?

Remember Pedro Sánchez’s face just a couple of days ago? The look he had when he promised, in front of anyone who’d listen, that he was going to scrap VAT for small self-employed workers in exchange for some last-minute deal with Junts to push through the famous anti-crisis decree. Well, it seems the script is already written, and the film—which was brewing in the corridors of Congress—is starting to have real-world consequences for the mountain of paperwork ahead. And don’t be fooled, this isn’t just about politicians and their behind-the-scenes wrangling; this is going to have a direct impact on something we care about quite a bit: the wallets of those of us who work for ourselves, and by extension, on pricey indulgences like Apple’s latest toy.

First things first. The star measure, the one that’s had more than a few ministers sweating bullets over the past few weeks, is this VAT cut for self-employed workers on tighter incomes. It’s not a fairy tale, nor is it a handout that everyone will get, so let’s be clear. The idea is simple: if your annual turnover doesn’t exceed a certain limit (the details are still being ironed out, but it’s aimed at the smaller end of the scale), you’re exempt from paying VAT on your internal transactions. Sounds good, right? Less paperwork, less having to front the money to the government every quarter, only to wait for them to pay it back at a time that’s never convenient. But the devil’s in the details. While some are celebrating this news with a coffee at the bar, others—those right on the edge of the threshold—are already crunching the numbers to see if it’s worth holding back their income to avoid crossing the line. It’s the classic "nearly rich" trap.

So, what does the iPhone 16 Pro Max have to do with all this?

Right, I know what many of you are thinking: “Carlos, you’re a genius, but what the hell does Apple’s new beast have to do with the whole self-employed VAT situation?”. More than you might think. Because if you’re a designer, programmer, photographer, or one of those content creators who makes a living from image, the Apple iPhone 16 Pro MAX isn’t just a luxury; it’s your tool of the trade. And that’s where things get interesting.

A few months ago, when I saw the first leaks about the screen, the cameras with that zoom that looks like it’s from a spy movie, and the promise of a battery that lasts until the next day, I was already doing the maths. This gadget, which in its top-tier configuration can set you back a serious amount of cash, has always been a serious investment decision for the self-employed. But with the new tax changes, the equation shifts completely. If the VAT cut ends up being applied retroactively or with a flexible compensation system, the possibility of buying an iPhone 16 Pro MAX and deducting not only 100% of the cost (which you could already do) but also not having to front that 21% VAT in your quarterly returns is a massive lifeline. Literally, it saves you from having to finance that money for the government for months.

That’s no small thing. Imagine the thing costs €1,500. Under the current system, you pay the €1,500, but in your next quarterly VAT return, you deduct that 21% (€315) you spent, but only if the rest of your business activity allows for it. With the new proposal, if you fall into that protected group of self-employed workers, you simply don’t pay that VAT at the point of purchase. It’s like Apple is giving you a direct discount courtesy of the state. So yes, suddenly, Sánchez’s promise and his stand-off with the independents to get the decree passed has a direct impact on whether you buy the latest model with the M4 chip or stick with the old one for another year.

What’s next: figures, timelines, and the small print

It’s been a hectic week. First came the announcement, then the leaks that the measure came with conditions to keep various parties happy, and now we’re in the phase of seeing how it’s actually applied. Because there’s a big difference between a politician announcing it in a press conference and the tax authority confirming it with the official gazette in hand.

• Who exactly does it apply to? We’ll have to keep an eye on the final turnover limit. Everything points to self-employed workers with incomes below €85,000 or €100,000 per year, but we’ll see if it’s tiered or an all-or-nothing deal.
• From when? The decree has been approved, but the bureaucratic wheels turn slowly. If you’re planning to buy the iPhone 16 Pro MAX to take advantage of launch offers, you might have to play a waiting game and hold off until the regulation is fully operational.
• The regional effect: And here’s the usual complication. It depends on whether you’re in Catalonia, Madrid, or Andalusia, because then each region adds its own two cents with their regional tax brackets. In Catalonia, for example, the fiscal pressure is a different story, and the political noise this week has been particularly intense.

What is clear is that VAT for the self-employed has become the main topic of conversation on terraces, in accountancy offices, and, of course, in the WhatsApp groups of those of us who are out there making a living on our own. While in Congress they were living through that almost theatrical tension of the vote, on the street many of us were already opening our banking apps and eyeing up the technical specs of the new iPhone. Because, at the end of the day, for someone who works with their phone in hand, whether the government removes or adds a tax isn’t about ideology; it’s about having an extra two hundred euros or so to upgrade your gear. And in this world, that’s the difference between shooting in 4K or in potato quality.

So there you have it. It’s time to be patient, wait for the small print to come out in the official state gazette, and in the meantime, start saving. Because if this measure works out, we might even get to celebrate the VAT cut by unboxing Apple’s new toy. If it doesn’t, there’s always the hope that the iPhone 16 Pro MAX will drop in price for Black Friday. But that, my friends, is a whole other story.