‘An aberrant project’: criticism of the tax reform for proposed taxes

He National Government He already settled the tax reform project before the Congress of the Republic; initiative with which it seeks to give 26.3 billion additional pesos to General Budget of the Nation for 2026about 1.5% of GDP, according to the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit.

The document includes adjustments to the National Tax Systemas modifications to income tax, the collection of VAT and equity tax; as well as tax incentives for renewable energy projects and stimuli to investment in science, technology and innovation.

(You may be interested: After injured procedure, Minhacienda filed the Financing Law in Congress).

In the prelude and the dessert of its filing, different voices and sectors gave their concept of this government initiative, which will also be a strategy that seeks to relieve the fiscal deficit that has afflicted the country’s finances in recent years.

For example, the Vicky Dávila presidential journalist and candidate He affirmed that the government would be looking to obtain resources to take advantage of them in the next elections, so he asked Congress to sink the project as soon as possible.

(You may be interested: This is the Document of the Tax Reforma project based by the Government).

“I ask the Congress to have the Petro Tax Reform. Otherwise, there will be 26 billion pesos for the government to buy the elections of 26“He mentioned in his social networks.

Jaime Alberto Cabal, president of the National Federation of Merchants of Colombia (Fenalco)He said that the reform seeks to tax families and formal trade more, mentioning tax settings to segments such as gasoline, hybrid vehicles, liquor, concerts, bets, among others.

“The Government insists on disguising a tax reform under the so -called “financing law.” It is an aberrant project that puts your hand to all Colombians blatantly. (…) This project has neither feet nor head, it is a time bomb for everyone’s pocket and for the national economy“He mentioned.

María Fernanda Cabal, senator and presidential candidate of the Democratic Centerhe criticized on the side of hybrid vehicles tax.

(You can read: ‘We are guaranteeing the fiscal sustainability of the next government’: Minhacienda).

“Petro, Ecopathy and Mitómano: preaches about “climate change” and boasts as an environmentalist, but in its tax reform, that we are going to reject directly attacks hybrid vehicles. It proposes to eliminate the benefits of article 468-1, which today allows a reduced 5% rate for hybrids, its engines, generators and loaders. With their proposal, these would be taxed with the general VAT of 19%. The double discourse always: it claims to protect the environment while punishing the technological transition“He said on his social networks.

He Mayor of Medellín, Federico Gutiérrezhe said that with the reform, the government would be looking for more “waste.”

“Those who are wrong today govern, set the country on fire for a tax reform presented by the previous government. They were campaigning. Today governing and after waste and corruption, they say they need to make a tax reform to get $ 26.3 billion to continue the waste and campaign“He mentioned.

Efraín Cepeda, former president of the Senate of the Republiche mentioned that from Congress the way that the articulate does not prosper will be sought.

“The financing law was presented, a tax reform disguised. We will not allow more taxes for natural persons, already overwhelmed, or companies, suffocated for higher costs. VAT, regressive, hits the most vulnerable. It seems that the government seeks to stop business growth and weaken citizen heritage. Some leftist spokesmen suggest that keeping people in poverty ensures votes for their political project. This tax myopia reflects a clear ideological bias. Colombians and companies beaten will have in us a firm spokesman voting in favor of Colombians and against this inefficient government that aims to raise more without ability to execute anything“said Cepeda, who also anticipated that the project would not have enough support in the economic commissions of Congress.

The President of the Colombo American Chamber of Commerce (Amcham Colombia), María Claudia Lacouturehe asked the Congress to make a responsible debate of the project, but to take into account needs such as responsibility in spending, investment and growth to clean up public finances in a sustainable way.

“Sustainable exit to the fiscal crisis requires austerity and efficiency in spending, with a state that contains its operating costs and prioritize productive investment before demanding new efforts from taxpayers. It is essential to guarantee stability and competitiveness, avoiding changes that break the rules of the game and deteriorate the legal certainty of the country. Likewise, progressivity should be ensured without suffocation, protecting the most vulnerable homes from VAT and fuel impacts, and preventing the load from continuing to concentrate on the same formal sectors“He said.

Portfolio