What’s This Letter
EN
Read my letter

Other · Spain

Acuerdo de iniciación de expediente sancionador: a sanction file has been opened

This is the opening letter of a general administrative sanction procedure — the template used for everything that is not tax or traffic: an unlicensed tourist rental, a noise complaint, an extranjería infraction, dumping rubbish outside hours. It is an accusation with a stated fine range, not yet a final fine.

How serious: needs actionAlso called: expediente sancionador, incoación de expediente, pliego de cargos, propuesta de resolución sancionadora

The letter must identify you, the facts, their possible legal classification, the potential fine, the instructor of the file, and the right to make alegaciones. It names the specific órgano with sanctioning powers behind it.

The senders vary: ayuntamientos for ordinance breaches, noise and waste; comunidades autónomas for housing or tourism-rental rules; state bodies for extranjería or labour matters.

The law builds in discounts for closing the case early: recognising responsibility or paying voluntarily carries a legal reduction of at least 20% each, cumulative — often 40% in total — but only if appeals are waived.

Who sends it

Any Spanish public administration with sanctioning powers — ayuntamientos (ordinance breaches, noise, waste), comunidades autónomas (housing, tourism-rental rules), state bodies (extranjería, labour inspectorate). The letter names the specific órgano and the instructor of the file.

The words 'ACUERDO DE INICIACIÓN', 'incoación de expediente sancionador' or 'PLIEGO DE CARGOS'. It names an instructor and the órgano competente, describes the alleged facts and the sanction range, and states the alegaciones deadline — usually together with the reduced amounts for voluntary payment (pago voluntario con reducción).

The deadline

The alegaciones deadline stated in the acuerdo itself (Ley 39/2015 art. 64.2.f requires it to be stated; the audiencia window is 10-15 days, art. 82.2). Voluntary payment with reduction: any moment before the resolution (art. 85.2)

The alegaciones deadline is the one stated in the acuerdo itself — Ley 39/2015 art. 64.2.f requires it to be stated; the audiencia window is 10 to 15 days (art. 82.2), counted from the day after notification. Voluntary payment with reduction is possible at any moment before the resolution (art. 85.2).

If you do nothing

If no alegaciones are made in the stated period and the acuerdo contains a precise statement of responsibility, the acuerdo itself can be treated as the propuesta de resolución (Ley 39/2015 art. 64.2.f) — the procedure jumps straight toward the fine. The eventual resolution is then notified with its own payment window and appeal deadlines; unpaid fines follow the apremio route.

How it escalates

  1. 01The acuerdo becomes the propuesta de resolución where it contains a precise finding (Ley 39/2015 art. 64.2.f); the sanction is then imposed on the file's evidence.
  2. 02The resolution is notified with the fine; failing to appeal within one month (reposición, art. 124.1) makes it firm.
  3. 03Unpaid firm fines are collected through the vía de apremio with surcharges, then embargo.
  4. 04The chance to close the case cheaply — reductions of at least 20% each for recognition and prompt payment (art. 85.3) — expires with the resolution.

Your options, procedurally

  • Alegaciones and evidence can be filed within the stated window, and pruebas can be proposed (Ley 39/2015 arts. 64 and 76-77).
  • Responsibility can be recognised and/or the fine paid voluntarily before the resolution, obtaining the cumulative reductions of at least 20% each (art. 85.2-85.3); this requires desisting from administrative appeals.
  • The trámite de audiencia (10-15 days) can be used to inspect the expediente before the final proposal (art. 82).
  • Against the resolution: a recurso de alzada or reposición, depending on whether the act exhausts the administrative route (arts. 121-124), then the contencioso-administrativo.

Common questions

Is the fine already decided?

No. The acuerdo de iniciación is an accusation with a stated sanction range. The fine only becomes final with the resolution — after the alegaciones and audiencia steps.

How do the early-payment reductions work?

Recognising responsibility and paying voluntarily before the resolution each carry a legal reduction of at least 20%, cumulative — often 40% in total (Ley 39/2015 art. 85). The condition is desisting from administrative appeals.

What does silence do in this procedure?

If the acuerdo contains a precise statement of responsibility and no alegaciones are filed, the acuerdo itself can become the propuesta de resolución (art. 64.2.f) — the file moves straight toward the fine on the evidence it already holds.

Sources

Facts verified against the sources below on 28 August 2026.