Chamber approves urgency regime for project that punishes persistent debtors

This Thursday, the Chamber of Deputies approved the urgency regime for the project that punishes “repeated debtors”, companies and individuals who repeatedly and deliberately accumulate tax debts. There were 336 votes in favor and 50 against. President Hugo Motta (Republicanos-PB) stated that a discussion on the merits will still be held.

— We have not yet chosen the rapporteur and there will be a broad debate in the college of leaders.

With urgent approval, the text, which has already passed through the Senate, can be voted on directly in the plenary, without having to return to the thematic committees.

The project aims to combat tax fraud, the use of shell companies and the activities of organized crime. The proposal affects those who have debts above R$15 million and have a history of opening new CNPJs just to avoid paying taxes

On Wednesday, ten parliamentary fronts linked to the productive sector defended the approval of the text, which also has the government’s endorsement.

According to a survey of the fronts, the country currently has around 1,200 CNPJs classified as persistent debtors, responsible for more than R$200 billion in tax debts. The estimate is that the application of the new rules will allow the recovery of up to R$30 billion per year.

The text defines a taxpayer who accumulates debts intentionally and recurrently, after repeated assessments, as persistent. Among the sanctions foreseen are the loss of tax benefits, restrictions on participation in tenders and stricter rules for successive installments.

The proposal gained strength after Operation Hidden Carbon, in August, launched by the Federal Revenue Service and the Federal Police, which revealed a billion-dollar money laundering and tax evasion scheme linked to the PCC and gas station networks. The investigation led parliamentarians to include tougher provisions for the fuel sector and companies that repeat tax fraud.

The project is considered a priority for Minister Fernando Haddad and his economic team.

— The persistent debtor’s PL, approved yesterday, is also very important. For two years we have been insisting that that PL is not for taxpayers, it is for people who use business instruments to hide, transfer, and launder money — said the Secretary of the Federal Revenue, Renan Barreirinhas.