It is known as rate to those economic contributions made by users of a certain service that is provided by the state. Although it is very common for people who do not have extensive knowledge in economic matters to confuse the concept of a rate with that of a tax, it is worth clarifying that a rate is not the same as a tax as most people mistakenly believe, because in the In the case of taxes, these do keep a mandatory nature in terms of compliance with their payment, which the rates, on the other hand, do not show, that is, A fee will only be paid as long as the service in question is consumed, that is, if I do not consume it, I do not have to pay it.
And the second and most important difference that rates maintain with respect to taxes is that the rate offers us a remuneration, materialized in the service that is used, for the payment we make, which is known as consideration and that is something that taxpayers They do not receive in exchange for paying any tax, because these are obligations that one cannot refuse to comply and that also do not offer any type of remuneration for their fulfillment in time and form with the payment.
A classic example of a rate is that of public transport, each user pays every time they get on a bus, train or subway, while if they do not use any means of public transport they are not required to comply with a monthly obligation in this regard. . Meanwhile, the state through this rate makes a total or partial recovery of the costs generated by the provision of the public service.
The rates assigned to these public services must be previously regulated by law and have the pertinent approval of the corresponding parliament.
