Santa Claus this year could bring wrapped gifts as a tax break, but with an amnesty that affects 13 million tax bills.
It is the gift of the Meloni government and in particular of his Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance Maurizio Leo to whom he has given the tax authority, who - in view of the maneuver - aims to trash folders up to € 1.000, while for those between 1.000 and 3.000 euros “evaded tax can be reduced by 50%“, why process them it would cost the state more than it would collect and thus they would be included in the "mechanism of tax break”, he said during the “Quarta Repubblica” program on Retequattro.
The game is not worth the candle: under 1.000 euros folders trashed
“If there are folders whose amount does not exceed one thousand euros” explained Leo “the cost of collection is much higher. Not because we want to make amnesties or discounts, but because the collection costs are higher". Therefore, for the deputy minister, it would not be a question of a gift to the electors, to whom it had actually been promised during the electoral campaign, but a saving reasoning for the state. So "those folders should be trashed". The deputy minister explained that a similar provision had already been adopted in the past, with which debts under one thousand euros for the period 2000-2010 were canceled and that his intention is "to move the date to 2015".
The folders would be those until 2015. As regards those from 1.000 to 3.000 euros, including the tax evaded or the penalties, the benefits and interest will be deducted, while the amount of the tax can be reduced to 50%, "the accounts are still being done, he explained Leo, but the fine could also be reduced” to 5%.
Only 6-7% of folders can be claimed
“Let's stop the flood – said the undersecretary -. This mass of files exists because over time many measures have taken place on the basis of which, after the process that starts from the assessment notices often not honored by taxpayers, we move on to tax reports: in all they are 1.132 billion. Of these, the Court of Auditors tells us that they can collect only 6-7%".
According to the deputy minister, the files sent to the deceased and to those who have companies in bankruptcy and can no longer fulfill their tax obligations,” must necessarily be eliminated. On the remaining folders you have to make a selection.
The review of the sanction system
“In addition to the relevant tax burden, the real problem of the Italian tax authorities – he said – is the sanctioning system. For example, if a subject has presented a VAT return and has not honored his tax debt, has omitted or has not declared correctly, it is right that he pays a penalty for unfaithful declaration. However, another one is added to this for non-payment. The two Cuban sanctions between 110 and 220%”.
“I – continued Leo – say that we need to review the sanctioning system. It can't be done right away, it will be done within one tax reform, from January on. Now, however, the taxpayer must be told that he must pay all the tax, but that we reduce the fine at 5% and we offer him one long delay, the possibility of paying in a certain period of time, the entity of which we will establish well with the State accounting. We want to put the taxpayer in a position to be able to pay”.
In the event of impossibility due to a pandemic or energy crisis
Finally, the deputy minister analyzed the case of those who presented their VAT return, exposing their debt, but were unable to pay it due to the pandemic and the energy crisis. “We want to meet these citizens – she said –. For example, those who have not made the periodic payments due for 2022 will be asked to pay what they owe spreading the figure over time, perhaps in a shorter period than the 72 months currently envisaged, but without penalties. This regardless of income bracket in which it falls".
“We will charge the entire tax – he concluded – even to those who have not paid the sums due between the 2019 and the 2021 and received from the Revenue Agency the so-called good-natured notice. The only benefits that we will grant, in this case, are the reduction of the fine to 5% and the deferment of payment, to put people in a position to honor their debt. It will not be an amnesty, we will make everything pay".
Difficult flat tax for employees, let's think about premiums
Furthermore, Leo explained that the government would like to “extend the Incremental flat tax for employees, but the numbers are robust and it is complex to do so. However, employees – I am thinking of those in the private sector – have a productivity bonus on which 10% is applied up to €3.000. We can leave 10% up to 3.000 euros and then on the part that exceeds 3.000 we can apply 15%, or we can apply 5% on 3.000 euros".
