Rules by country / Europe / Spain sugar tax
Spain sugar tax: what VAT and the Catalan tax cost each drink
Sweetened drinks pay 21% VAT in Spain instead of 10%, and in Catalonia they also pay 8 or 12 cents a litre by sugar content. We work out the cost for every product and how to price for it.
Catalan tax at the rates in force since 2017. VAT at 21% is added to the price everywhere in Spain.
A sugar tax review for Spain
What VAT and the Catalan tax cost each product, and the most profitable response, with a price plan for each retailer.
- The tax and VAT on every product, in Catalonia and the rest of Spain
- Pass on, absorb or cut sugar: the most profitable choice for each product, and how sure we are
- The most a recipe change can cost and still pay
- A price plan for each retailer, and an Excel model
How your results look
| Product | Sugar per 100ml | Catalan tax | Our advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cola, 330ml can | 10.6g | 4 cents a can | Pass on in full |
| Lemonade, 1.5 litres | 6g | 12 cents a bottle | Cut sugar below 5g |
| Iced tea, 500ml | 4.6g | No tax | Hold the price |
Fictional products. Every real result comes with the expected sales and profit, and a likely range.
Your options
Every option has a fixed price, agreed before we start.
Sugar tax review
- The tax and best choice for each product
- Price plan for each retailer
- Scenario model and a walk-through
Pricing review with the tax
- Everything in the tax review
- Prices and promotions for the whole range
- How your products take sales from each other
Portfolio review
- Everything in the pricing review
- More retailers and data sources
- A plan for each channel
After the project: a refresh before each pricing round, from £2,000 (about €2,400). Prices are fixed in pounds sterling; amounts in euros are a guide at October 2026 exchange rates. We're based in the UK and work remotely, in English, under NDA.
How it works
From the first call to your plan in about three weeks.
A free 15-minute call
Tell us about your range. We say whether a review would pay for itself, and quote a fixed price.
Your data
Sales by product and retailer, recipes and costs. We sign an NDA before anything moves.
Your plan
The tax on every product, the best choice and a price plan, walked through with your team.
Spain sugar tax: the detail
Open only what you need.
- VAT
- 21% on drinks with added sugar or sweeteners since 2021, instead of the reduced 10%; dairy drinks excluded
- Catalonia
- 8 cents a litre from 5g to 8g of sugar per 100ml, and 12 cents above 8g, on soft drinks with added sugar, since May 2017
- Where
- The Catalan tax applies to drinks sold in Catalonia only
Pass it on
Raise the price by the tax or more. Works for products whose sales hold up when the price rises.
Absorb it
Keep the price and take the cost. Works when a rise would push a product past a key price point and lose more profit than the tax.
Cut sugar
Under 5g a drink pays no Catalan tax. The 21% VAT still applies if it is sweetened.
Does Spain have a sugar tax?
Spain charges 21% VAT on drinks with added sugar or sweeteners instead of the reduced 10% rate, and Catalonia adds its own tax of 8 or 12 cents a litre by sugar content.
How much is the Catalan sugar tax?
8 cents a litre for drinks with 5g to 8g of sugar per 100ml, and 12 cents above 8g.
Are zero-sugar drinks taxed in Spain?
Drinks with sweeteners pay the 21% VAT, but not the Catalan tax, which covers drinks with added sugar.
How much does a sugar tax review cost?
A review of up to 10 products has a fixed price from £7,500 (about €9,000) and takes about three weeks. For 11 to 50 products, a full pricing review costs around £17,500 (about €21,000). It starts with a free 15-minute call.
Do you work with brands in Spain?
Yes. We're based in the UK and work remotely and in English, under NDA. Prices are fixed in pounds sterling before we start, and the first step is a free 15-minute call.
Checked on 20 October 2026. Rules and rates change, so check the official source before making decisions. This page is not tax advice.