A British expat couple have been hit with a tax bill of almost 10,000 by Spanish authorities despite never working there and moving back to the UK in 2017.
Richard and Jane Brown retired to Spain in October 2010 before returning to their native South Yorkshire seven years later.
When the couple moved to Andalusia, Richard, 70, continued to pay tax on his UK pension to HMRC, meaning he did not have to pay any tax to Hacienda, the Spanish Treasury, given the two countries operate a shared double taxation agreement.
But earlier this month HMRC informed Richard that they owed Hacienda 11,143.57 - equivalent to 9,439.16 - for the 2016 and 2017 tax years.
The couple, who have said the ordeal has caused them great stress, were not provided a reason for the tax bill in the documents they received.
Jane said: 'I just can't believe it. It's so upsetting, and it's so stressful because I have to deal with the whole situation - it's been a complete bolt out of the blue.
'If we had only been back a year I could half understand it, but eight years after leaving the country, it's a complete joke.
'We've been back in the country for eight years and the letter we received last Friday is the first correspondence we've had.
'Not a single reason or explanation for the tax or why it has grown over time has been given, which makes it seem like a scam.
'They've suddenly decided there was a debt and I believe they sent the letters to our old address, which is why it's accumulated and it's gone to...
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