On Tuesday night (16), the Chamber of Deputies approved a bill that improves transparency and oversight of tax benefits granted. The text also reduces these benefits from different sectors by 10%. Now, the text goes to the Senate.
The project provides for the reduction of tax incentives related to the Social Integration Program and the Public Servant Asset Formation Program (PIS/Pasep) and Pasep Importação, Cofins and Cofins Importação; Tax on Industrialized Products (IPI), Corporate Income Tax (IRPJ) and Social Contribution on Net Profit (CSLL); import tax and employer and company social security contributions.
The rapporteur, Aguinaldo Ribeiro (PP-PB), stated that the “indiscriminate granting” of tax benefits corrodes the tax system, making it unequal, unfair and inefficient.
“We are not opposed to policies to stimulate strategic sectors of the economy. However, the use of tax benefits for this purpose tends to be the most expensive, least effective and least transparent tool and, in many cases, only serves to benefit private interests without generating social returns.”
According to the text, the Executive Branch will have decision-making power to reduce benefits, as this reduction impacts the budget.
The reduction option includes the benefits of the Special Chemical Industry Regime (Reiq); presumed IPI credit obtained by an exporting company regarding the purchase, on the domestic market, of packaging and raw materials; and presumed PIS/Cofins credit, including on imports, in several cases. Among them, in the case of pharmaceutical products, goods of animal origin. There may also be a reduction in benefits in the fertilizer and pesticide sector.
There is a list of sectors that are excluded from this possibility of reduction. Among them, products from the national basic food basket, benefits granted to non-profit philanthropic entities, payroll relief and benefits linked to the Minha Casa, Minha Vida and Universidade para Todos programs.
Tax increase
The project also foresees an increase in taxes for online betting services, known as bets, and for fintechs (digital companies operating in the financial market). In the case of bets, the tax would increase from the current 12% to 13% in 2026 and 14% in 2027, reaching 15% in 2028.
Fintechs would no longer pay 15% CSLL and would start collecting 17.5% until 12/31/2027 and 20% from 2028.
*with information from Agência Câmara de Notícias
