mark the Solidarity Company Box in Corporate Tax is a simple gesture that can benefit any SME. Not only because it promotes business solidarity, but it is also a way to get involved in social change and sustainable development.
However, this selection and the advantages that it entails are still little known to many small and medium-sized companies. That is why we have talked to Luciano Poyato Roca, president of the Third Sector Platform, that promotes this initiative. The manager has explained to us in detail what the Solidarity Company Box is and why it is a good idea to mark it in the Corporate Tax.
MuyPymes: What is the Solidarity Company Box and where can it be found?
Luciano Poyato: The Solidarity Company Box is the opportunity, at zero cost, for all companies that pay Corporate Tax to allocate 0.7% of their taxation to finance social projects. This voluntary and altruistic action allows companies to generate a positive impact on society and contribute to a more just, equal and sustainable social transformation.
The Solidarity Company Box is available in two forms of Corporation Tax: 200 and 220. To check the box, you must go to the section ‘other characters – corporate purposes’ of the Corporation Tax, and look for box 00073 (in the form 200) or 069 (on the 220 model). It can be marked between July 1 and July 25.
The Solidarity Company Box was created in the General State Budget Law of 2018, in Additional Provision 103 on the allocation of amounts to activities of general interest considered of social interest.
MuyPymes: Who is behind this initiative?
Luciano Poyato: The Solidarity Company Box is an initiative of the Third Sector Platform whose objective is to channel and promote business solidarity and promote the generation of alliances between companies and entities of the Third Sector.
The Platform for the Third Sector is a state-wide non-profit entity, created in 2012, with the aim of defending, through a single voice, the rights and social interests of citizens, mainly those living in poverty. , vulnerability or risk of exclusion. It is made up of the nine most representative organizations in the social sphere: the Social Action NGO Platform (POAS), the Spanish Volunteer Platform (PVE), the European Network to Fight Poverty and Social Exclusion in the State Spanish (EAPN-ES), the Spanish Committee of Representatives of Persons with Disabilities (CERMI), the Spanish Red Cross, Cáritas Española, ONCE, the Coordinator of NGDOs in Spain and the Children’s Platform. In addition, eleven territorial platforms and roundtables are part of it, representing nearly 28,000 Third Sector entities.
MuyPymes: What does it mean for an SME to mark the CES?
Luciano Poyato: SMEs are fundamental to the success of the Solidarity Company Box. On June 27, we celebrated its international day, valuing its transformative potential in societies around the world. A potential that is more than evident in the case of our country, where they represent more than 90% of the business ecosystem and generate 66% of total business employment.
For this reason, from the Third Sector Platform we insist, every year, on the need for SMEs to join the Solidarity Company Box, because it offers them the Opportunity to engage in social change, no matter your size or industry. We are aware that Spanish companies, and of course SMEs, are increasingly becoming aware of the importance of contributing to social welfare and sustainable development and we want to make it as easy as possible for them.
When an SME checks the Solidarity Company box, it is reaffirming its social commitment and its willingness to contribute to the well-being of society. It supposes that the company recognizes its responsibility as an active agent in the construction of a more just and inclusive society. By checking this box, the SME allocates a part of its corporate tax to Third Sector projects and programs, thus strengthening support for social initiatives and improving the environment and community in which it operates.
MuyPymes: What is the destination of those CES funds?
Luciano Poyato: The collection of the Solidarity Company Box is essential to promote the just social transition.
The Funds raised go to social projects in different areas such as the fight against poverty and social exclusion, care for people in vulnerable situations, promotion of gender equality, protection of the environment, Development Cooperation and the promotion of education and employment .
These projects have a transformative impact on the lives of thousands of people and contribute to building a more just and equitable society. Thus, in 2022, thanks to the funds raised, more than 880 projects were financed at the state level, developed by 262 entities. And in 2021, at the regional level, more than 6,500 social projects were financed, developed by 2,148 entities.
These figures demonstrate the real impact and transformative capacity of the Solidarity Company Box, its transversality and diversity. But, above all, they show how companies, regardless of their size or sector, have the capacity to be agents of change and engines of social transformation.
MuyPymes: What social impact can companies that check this box cause?
Luciano Poyato: Companies that check the Solidarity Company box have a very significant social impact. Your contribution is allocated to social projects aimed at guaranteeing the rights of citizens, the fight against poverty, social exclusion and inequality and their objective is to advance towards a more just, equal and inclusive society.
These actions generate a positive change in society by improving the quality of life of the most needy people and promoting social inclusion. In addition, the support of companies through this box promotes job creation and local economic development, generating a multiplier effect in the community.
We understand that it is crucial for companies to have clear information about the traceability, impact and destination of funds when considering checking the Solidarity Company Box and supporting the campaign. In the Third Sector, we share this concern and interest. We commit ourselves daily to promoting the values of transparency, good governance, accountability and impact measurement. Therefore, it is essential to highlight that the funds raised through this box have a tangible and direct impact on society and the environment.
The social impact of the Solidarity Company Box is reflected in the collection obtained and the social projects developed. If we look at last year’s figures, in 2022 43 million euros were raised, with which projects of a very diverse nature were promoted, such as those mentioned above, aimed at ending inequalities, poverty and exclusion. But this impact is not exclusive to the beneficiaries of the projects. Checking the Solidarity Company box generates a multiplier effect in society as a whole. Investment in social initiatives contributes to job creation, promotes local economic development and strengthens community ties. With each company that gets involved, another door to social progress opens and opportunities to finance projects that directly benefit society multiply.
MuyPymes: How can this action affect the brand image of a company?
Luciano Poyato: More and more people are opting for responsible and sustainable consumption, making a selective search and selection of companies that promote values of inclusion, diversity, co-responsibility, care, equality, etc. It is, in this context, where the Solidarity Company Box comes in.
Check the Box Solidarity Company has a positive impact on brand image of the company First, it shows a clear and visible commitment to corporate social responsibility, which reinforces the perception of the company as a committed and ethical entity. This builds trust and loyalty among both existing and potential customers.
In addition, the support for social projects and the positive impact on the community strengthen the company’s reputation, generating a more supportive and committed brand image. This can set the company apart from its competitors and build a stronger relationship with various stakeholders, including customers, employees and society in general.
In addition, from the Third Sector Platform we have launched the Solidarity Company Seal in recognition of companies that decide to have a positive impact through the Company Tax Solidarity Box.
MuyPymes: What does the Solidarity Company Seal consist of?
Luciano Poyato: Obtaining the seal verifies that it is a caring and responsible company that is committed to alliances, sustainability and social reconstruction. Likewise, it highlights the commitment of companies with the Third Sector, with the 2030 Agenda and with its 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Companies that want to be agents of change and social transformation with a positive impact on their community.
The companies that have obtained the Solidarity Company Seal show that they have checked the Solidarity Company Box in their Corporate Tax. The seal certifies that it is companies that defend a responsible business that generates a positive social impact, companies that not only pursue an exclusively economic benefit, but are also socially responsible.
To obtain the Solidarity Company Seal, companies must demonstrate that they have checked the Solidarity Box in their Corporate Tax. The Third Sector Platform will be in charge of distributing the seal through personalized control and verification through a responsible declaration model. Once the documentation is received, a kit is sent with the files linked to the seal and the instructions on where and how it can be used.
