The Contentious Chamber analysed the case of a company that treated as exempt - in accordance with art. 7.e) LIRPF - the severance payments made to six workers. The TEAC concluded that the terminations were in fact agreements between the parties, which precluded the application of the exemption. The company appealed unsuccessfully
The key: determining whether the dismissal is forced or agreed. The Court of Appeal validated the circumstantial evidence method of art. 108 LGT by assessing a "precise and direct link according to the rules of human criteria". The evidence that tipped the balance:
- The objective causes alleged in the dismissal letters were recognised as unfair in prior conciliation, revealing that they were not the real origin of the dismissal.
- In all cases, compensation was chosen over reinstatement, obtaining higher amounts than in the case of objective dismissal.
- All the workers were over 61 years of age. After receiving unemployment benefit, they received a retirement pension.
- The amount is not related to seniority or salary: the older they are - the shorter the distance to retirement - the lower the amount. The total was intended to compensate for the income they would have received until retirement.