From new tax office, Catalonia hopes to grab billions from MadridBARCELONA (Reuters) - In a glass building overlooking Barcelona s port, empty desks and computers wait for new workers of Catalonia s tax agency. As in other Spanish regions, the agency already collects some taxes on wealth, inheritance, gambling and transport. But the regional government has spent 18 million euros expanding the agency in the hope that it will gain independence from Madrid in an Oct. 1 vote that the Spanish government considers illegal. From the shiny port office with a 20 year lease, it is hoping to wrestle control of the rest of the region s finances, claiming billions of euros of income tax and corporate revenue currently going to the Spanish government. Catalonia has increased the agency s staff by 75 percent to 700 since January and plans to fill the empty desks by the end of the year if the vote goes through. It has also opened a dozen new regional offices. This is Catalonia s most tangible investment in the institutional infrastructure needed for a fledgling state and highlights its government s determination to secede. It says it will declare independence within 48 hours of a  yes  vote.  It also shows that they are likely to keep pushing for independence, even if they lose the vote.   In a future transition, it would not be acceptable for them to keep our taxes, because they are ours and they keep a lot,  said Catalan Treasury Secretary Josep Lluis Salvado. Madrid has declared the vote unconstitutional so there are widespread doubts about whether Catalonia can even stage a credible vote.  It may also not go in the Catalonian government s favor. Polls show less than half of Catalonia s 5.5 million voters want self-rule although most want the chance to vote on the issue. It is also not clear that companies would pay up: Barcelona s business lobby says no private firms would obey Catalan tax demands unless approved by Madrid.    But the Spanish government appears to be rattled. On Wednesday police entered the Catalan economy and budget department and the tax office as part of a raid on regional government offices, seizing documents and cutting off phone lines, according to a department official. It was the latest step in Madrid s campaign to prevent the referendum from going ahead. During the raids, police arrested Salvado, the junior economy minister Josep Maria Jove and three other department officials, the official said. They remain under arrest, the official said. Catalonia s resolve also worries some investors in Spanish bonds and the tax agency s expansion suggests an early post-independence flashpoint with Madrid could be a financial one. Catalonia, with an economy larger than Portugal s, says it receives an unfair redistribution of tax revenues from Madrid. Each year, it pays about 10 billion euros ($12 billion) more in taxes to Madrid than it gets back, or around 5 percent of regional economic output, according to data from the Spanish Treasury. In contrast, Spain s poorest region, Andalusia, receives almost 8 billion euros more than it pays in.  The money issue is one of the roots of the problem, the feeling that Catalonia is being ripped off,  said Angel Talavera, a Catalan economist at consultancy Oxford Economics. If its agency took over all forms of taxation, it would also collect income, company and value-added taxes, bringing total receipts to 42 billion euros, Salvado said. The agency collected about 3 billion euros last year, according to a spokeswoman for the Catalan economy and budget department. To avoid financial collapse, an independent Catalonia would need those tax revenues, economists say. It has 75 billion euros in public debt, 35 percent of its economic output, one of the highest of all Spain s regions, and its government bonds are already classified as  junk  by credit rating agencies. Investors are growing nervous as the referendum nears: the additional yield that Catalan bonds pay over Spanish short-term debt is at close to a nine-month high of about 300 basis points. The Catalan government last issued a bond in 2012, two years ahead of a previous failed independence referendum. It is not currently considering any bond issues, a spokeswoman said. Upon a declaration of independence, Salvado said Catalonia would seek to open talks with Madrid to take over all taxation in phases. It would start in October by pocketing 2.5 billion euros in taxes from about 700 public Catalan firms that currently goes to Madrid.  Later, the agency would collect tax from private firms and individuals. It could take years and the agency would need at least another 4,000 employees, Salvado added.  The principal challenge is to make sure the taxpayer does not perceive a change,  he said. Spain s Treasury has told Catalan businesses that paying taxes to the regional tax agency could constitute a crime. Madrid also took legislative steps last week to prevent the Catalan government from using Spanish public funds to pay for the ballot.  At the moment companies view it as impossible, they don t consider it,  Jordi Alberich, director of Barcelona-based business association Cercle d Economia, told Reuters. The Catalan government also lacks the database needed to correctly collect personal income and company taxes, according to Carlos Cruzado, the head of the Spanish Treasury s workers union. Salvado said the agency had sufficient data on taxpayers  inheritance and wealth taxes to make a start on taking over other forms of taxation, but they would seek to negotiate access to Spain s historical tax records. He did not expect a positive response.  The Spanish state is going to use its preferred word -  No .   worldnews
from new tax office catalunya hopes grab billions madridbarcelona reuters in glass building overlooking barcelona port empty desks computers wait new workers catalunya tax agency as spanish regions agency already collects taxes wealth inheritance gambling transport but regional government spent million euros expanding agency hope gain independence madrid vote spanish government considers illegal from shiny port office year lease hoping wrestle control rest region finances claiming billions euros income tax corporate revenue currently going spanish government catalunya increased agency staff percent since january plans fill empty desks end year vote goes it also opened dozen new regional offices this catalunya tangible investment institutional infrastructure needed fledgling state highlights government determination secede it says declare independence within hours yes vote it also shows likely keep pushing independence even lose vote in future transition would acceptable keep taxes keep lot said catalan treasury secretary joseph louis salvador madrid declared vote unconstitutional widespread doubts whether catalunya even stage credible vote it may also go catalonian government favor polls show less half catalunya million voters want although want chance vote issue it also clear companies would pay barcelona business lobby says private firms would obey catalan tax demands unless approved madrid but spanish government appears battled on wednesday police entered catalan economy budget department tax office part raid regional government offices seizing documents cutting phone lines according department official it latest step madrid campaign prevent referendum going ahead during raids police arrested salvador junior economy minister joseph maria move three department officials official said they remain arrest official said catalunya resolve also worries investors spanish bonds tax agency expansion suggests early flashpoint madrid could financial one catalunya economy larger portugal says receives unfair redistribution tax revenues madrid each year pays billion euros billion taxes madrid gets back around percent regional economic output according data spanish treasury in contrast spain poorest region andalusia receives almost billion euros pays the money issue one roots problem feeling catalunya ripped said angel talavera catalan economist consultancy oxford economics if agency took forms taxation would also collect income company taxes bringing total receipts billion euros salvador said the agency collected billion euros last year according spokeswoman catalan economy budget department to avoid financial collapse independent catalunya would need tax revenues economists say it billion euros public debt percent economic output one highest spain regions government bonds already classified junk credit rating agencies investors growing nervous referendum nears additional yield catalan bonds pay spanish debt close high basis points the catalan government last issued bond two years ahead previous failed independence referendum it currently considering bond issues spokeswoman said upon declaration independence salvador said catalunya would seek open talks madrid take taxation phases it would start october ticketing billion euros taxes public catalan firms currently goes madrid later agency would collect tax private firms individuals it could take years agency would need least another employees salvador added the principal challenge make sure taxpayer perceive change said spain treasury told catalan businesses paying taxes regional tax agency could constitute crime madrid also took legislative steps last week prevent catalan government using spanish public funds pay ballot at moment companies view impossible consider word alberich director business association cercle economia told reuters the catalan government also lacks database needed correctly collect personal income company taxes according carlos crusade head spanish treasury workers union salvador said agency sufficient data taxpayers inheritance wealth taxes make start taking forms taxation would seek negotiate access spain historical tax records he expect positive response the spanish state going use preferred word no worldnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: From new tax office, Catalonia hopes to grab billions from MadridBARCELONA (Reuters) - In a glass building overlooking Barcelona s port, empty desks and computers wait for new workers of Catalonia s tax agency. As in other Spanish regions, the agency already collects some taxes on wealth, inheritance, gambling and transport. But the regional government has spent 18 million euros expanding the agency in the hope that it will gain independence from Madrid in an Oct. 1 vote that the Spanish government considers illegal. From the shiny port office with a 20 year lease, it is hoping to wrestle control of the rest of the region s finances, claiming billions of euros of income tax and corporate revenue currently going to the Spanish government. Catalonia has increased the agency s staff by 75 percent to 700 since January and plans to fill the empty desks by the end of the year if the vote goes through. It has also opened a dozen new regional offices. This is Catalonia s most tangible investment in the institutional infrastructure needed for a fledgling state and highlights its government s determination to secede. It says it will declare independence within 48 hours of a  yes  vote.  It also shows that they are likely to keep pushing for independence, even if they lose the vote.   In a future transition, it would not be acceptable for them to keep our taxes, because they are ours and they keep a lot,  said Catalan Treasury Secretary Josep Lluis Salvado. Madrid has declared the vote unconstitutional so there are widespread doubts about whether Catalonia can even stage a credible vote.  It may also not go in the Catalonian government s favor. Polls show less than half of Catalonia s 5.5 million voters want self-rule although most want the chance to vote on the issue. It is also not clear that companies would pay up: Barcelona s business lobby says no private firms would obey Catalan tax demands unless approved by Madrid.    But the Spanish government appears to be rattled. On Wednesday police entered the Catalan economy and budget department and the tax office as part of a raid on regional government offices, seizing documents and cutting off phone lines, according to a department official. It was the latest step in Madrid s campaign to prevent the referendum from going ahead. During the raids, police arrested Salvado, the junior economy minister Josep Maria Jove and three other department officials, the official said. They remain under arrest, the official said. Catalonia s resolve also worries some investors in Spanish bonds and the tax agency s expansion suggests an early post-independence flashpoint with Madrid could be a financial one. Catalonia, with an economy larger than Portugal s, says it receives an unfair redistribution of tax revenues from Madrid. Each year, it pays about 10 billion euros ($12 billion) more in taxes to Madrid than it gets back, or around 5 percent of regional economic output, according to data from the Spanish Treasury. In contrast, Spain s poorest region, Andalusia, receives almost 8 billion euros more than it pays in.  The money issue is one of the roots of the problem, the feeling that Catalonia is being ripped off,  said Angel Talavera, a Catalan economist at consultancy Oxford Economics. If its agency took over all forms of taxation, it would also collect income, company and value-added taxes, bringing total receipts to 42 billion euros, Salvado said. The agency collected about 3 billion euros last year, according to a spokeswoman for the Catalan economy and budget department. To avoid financial collapse, an independent Catalonia would need those tax revenues, economists say. It has 75 billion euros in public debt, 35 percent of its economic output, one of the highest of all Spain s regions, and its government bonds are already classified as  junk  by credit rating agencies. Investors are growing nervous as the referendum nears: the additional yield that Catalan bonds pay over Spanish short-term debt is at close to a nine-month high of about 300 basis points. The Catalan government last issued a bond in 2012, two years ahead of a previous failed independence referendum. It is not currently considering any bond issues, a spokeswoman said. Upon a declaration of independence, Salvado said Catalonia would seek to open talks with Madrid to take over all taxation in phases. It would start in October by pocketing 2.5 billion euros in taxes from about 700 public Catalan firms that currently goes to Madrid.  Later, the agency would collect tax from private firms and individuals. It could take years and the agency would need at least another 4,000 employees, Salvado added.  The principal challenge is to make sure the taxpayer does not perceive a change,  he said. Spain s Treasury has told Catalan businesses that paying taxes to the regional tax agency could constitute a crime. Madrid also took legislative steps last week to prevent the Catalan government from using Spanish public funds to pay for the ballot.  At the moment companies view it as impossible, they don t consider it,  Jordi Alberich, director of Barcelona-based business association Cercle d Economia, told Reuters. The Catalan government also lacks the database needed to correctly collect personal income and company taxes, according to Carlos Cruzado, the head of the Spanish Treasury s workers union. Salvado said the agency had sufficient data on taxpayers  inheritance and wealth taxes to make a start on taking over other forms of taxation, but they would seek to negotiate access to Spain s historical tax records. He did not expect a positive response.  The Spanish state is going to use its preferred word -  No .   worldnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: from new tax office catalunya hopes grab billions madridbarcelona reuters in glass building overlooking barcelona port empty desks computers wait new workers catalunya tax agency as spanish regions agency already collects taxes wealth inheritance gambling transport but regional government spent million euros expanding agency hope gain independence madrid vote spanish government considers illegal from shiny port office year lease hoping wrestle control rest region finances claiming billions euros income tax corporate revenue currently going spanish government catalunya increased agency staff percent since january plans fill empty desks end year vote goes it also opened dozen new regional offices this catalunya tangible investment institutional infrastructure needed fledgling state highlights government determination secede it says declare independence within hours yes vote it also shows likely keep pushing independence even lose vote in future transition would acceptable keep taxes keep lot said catalan treasury secretary joseph louis salvador madrid declared vote unconstitutional widespread doubts whether catalunya even stage credible vote it may also go catalonian government favor polls show less half catalunya million voters want although want chance vote issue it also clear companies would pay barcelona business lobby says private firms would obey catalan tax demands unless approved madrid but spanish government appears battled on wednesday police entered catalan economy budget department tax office part raid regional government offices seizing documents cutting phone lines according department official it latest step madrid campaign prevent referendum going ahead during raids police arrested salvador junior economy minister joseph maria move three department officials official said they remain arrest official said catalunya resolve also worries investors spanish bonds tax agency expansion suggests early flashpoint madrid could financial one catalunya economy larger portugal says receives unfair redistribution tax revenues madrid each year pays billion euros billion taxes madrid gets back around percent regional economic output according data spanish treasury in contrast spain poorest region andalusia receives almost billion euros pays the money issue one roots problem feeling catalunya ripped said angel talavera catalan economist consultancy oxford economics if agency took forms taxation would also collect income company taxes bringing total receipts billion euros salvador said the agency collected billion euros last year according spokeswoman catalan economy budget department to avoid financial collapse independent catalunya would need tax revenues economists say it billion euros public debt percent economic output one highest spain regions government bonds already classified junk credit rating agencies investors growing nervous referendum nears additional yield catalan bonds pay spanish debt close high basis points the catalan government last issued bond two years ahead previous failed independence referendum it currently considering bond issues spokeswoman said upon declaration independence salvador said catalunya would seek open talks madrid take taxation phases it would start october ticketing billion euros taxes public catalan firms currently goes madrid later agency would collect tax private firms individuals it could take years agency would need least another employees salvador added the principal challenge make sure taxpayer perceive change said spain treasury told catalan businesses paying taxes regional tax agency could constitute crime madrid also took legislative steps last week prevent catalan government using spanish public funds pay ballot at moment companies view impossible consider word alberich director business association cercle economia told reuters the catalan government also lacks database needed correctly collect personal income company taxes according carlos crusade head spanish treasury workers union salvador said agency sufficient data taxpayers inheritance wealth taxes make start taking forms taxation would seek negotiate access spain historical tax records he expect positive response the spanish state going use preferred word no worldnews