Long day today in Arcore. The most important government meeting in recent weeks was held in the private residence of the Prime Minister from 11 this morning until around 18 pm. In addition to Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and Lega Leader Umberto Bossi, the meeting was also attended by Economy Minister Giulio Tremonti, Interior Minister Roberto Maroni and the new PDL secretary Angelino Alfano. At the center of the discussion are the proposed amendments to the text of the bis maneuver passed by decree on 30 August last. There is still no certainty, but new interventions on VAT and above all on the solidarity contribution seem inevitable. In all likelihood there will be good news for local authorities. The deadline for the presentation of the amendments expires today at 12. From tomorrow morning, a process of forced stages begins in the Budget and Constitutional Affairs commissions of the Senate. Here are the key points on the table:
VAT INCREASE FROM 20 TO 21%
The raising of one point of the ordinary value added tax rate is practically certain. The expected revenue from the Treasury is 3,7 billion. To the delight of Confindustria and the fury of Confcommercio.
THE THRESHOLD OF THE SUPER-TAX IS RISING
The threshold beyond which the solidarity contribution is triggered rises from 90 to 200 thousand euros of gross annual income. The rate will be only 5%. The one at 10% disappears. A threshold of 150 thousand euros is not yet excluded, but in this case with a link to the family quotient.
CAPITAL ON EVADERS
It would be a matter of assessing the "fairness" between the luxury goods owned and the income declared by taxpayers. Anyone who goes on a yacht in the summer and says he earns like a worker in the winter is hit by a property tax with a maximum rate of 5%, which decreases as the "fairness" increases. Who is perfectly in order with the taxman pays nothing. The new levy was conceived by Roberto Calderoli and the only ones who really believe in it seem to be the Northern League, who even estimate a potential revenue of between 5 and 7 billion. In the wake of Marcegaglia, many in the PDL consider this an "exotic tax". A little improvised.
Taxing the profits of energy companies with a turnover of over 10 million at 10% would bring 3,6 billion into the state coffers. The hypothesis of extending the levy to all state subsidiaries remains standing.
EXCEPT MINI-PROVINCES AND MINI-MUNICIPALITIES
The protests worked. In all likelihood the measures which provided for the suppression of the provinces under 300 inhabitants (which will be postponed to a subsequent bill) and the unification of the smaller municipalities will be removed from the manoeuvre. For the latter, in particular for those under 3 inhabitants, it will be mandatory to unify services. Overall, the cuts to local authorities should be lightened by about 3 billion, from the 9,5 billion initially foreseen.
Antonio Mazzocchi and Amedeo Laboccetta (PDL) have put forward the proposal for a new grave tax amnesty, which would bring something like 25 billion into the state coffers. The names favorable to the hypothesis, however, can be counted on the fingers of one hand.
