The decree "Cura Italia” approved on 16 March by the Government makes the so-called breathe a (little) sigh of relief “people of VAT numbers”. We are talking about self-employed and freelance professionals, but also co.co.co., artisans, traders, etc. who will receive an indemnity of 600 euros. A support in a period of health and economic emergency in which shops and offices are closed (with some exceptions), and receipts continue to decrease day by day.
However, there is a very substantial category of workers who risk remaining on the margins, caught in the grip of the coronavirus emergency, without adequate support measures that can somehow make up for the ongoing work difficulties. Let's talk about everyone freelancers enrolled in private professional funds: architects, engineers, journalists, lawyers, accountants, veterinarians, but also and above all doctors and nurses who will not receive the aforementioned indemnity but will have to settle for a "residual fund" of 300 million euro (against the 3 billion allocated for the others) whose operating mechanisms remain unknown. We will have to wait for a special decree from the Ministry of Labor which will identify the audience of beneficiaries, the operating mechanisms, the timing and any taxation.
VAT NUMBER: 600 EURO INDEMNITY
There is still no definitive text of the so-called “Cura Italia” decree. Too many controversies that have forced the Executive to prepare corrections and adjustments in the running to try to lend a hand to the most vexed categories.
In fact, the initial draft of the text provided for a one-off indemnity of 500 euros (100 euros less) in favor of VAT numbers, collaborators enrolled in the separate management of INPS and those enrolled in autonomous management. The updated note from the Government, on the other hand, changes - and not just - the cards on the table:
an indemnity of 600 euros is recognized, on a monthly, non-taxable basis, for self-employed workers and VAT numbers. The compensation goes to an audience of almost 5 million people.
Within a few hours, therefore, the amount of the indemnity increased by 100 euros, the compensation has become monthly and not one-off and another fundamental point was also clarified: it will not be taxable and therefore will not contribute to the formation of income.
Who will receive this allowance?
- non-registered professionals,
- co.co.co. under separate management,
- artisans,
- traders,
- direct farmers,
- farmers and sharecroppers,
- seasonal tourism and spa establishments sectors,
- entertainment industry workers,
- agricultural workers.
These categories will have to present a specific application (to find out when and from whom the implementing decree will have to be received), but according to what was announced by the Minister of Labor Nunzia Catalfo at a press conference, they will have a total of 3 billion euros available.
PROFESSIONALS ENROLLED IN THE CASHBOARDS
Change, and quite a lot, the discourse for freelancers enrolled in private pension funds. We are talking about hundreds of thousands of engineers and architects (registered with Inarcassa), surveyors (CIPAG), journalists (INPGI), lawyers (Cassa Forense), psychologists (ENPAP), accountants (CNPADC), nurses (ENPAPI), doctors (ENPAM Foundation ) and so on that they will not have access to the monthly compensation of 600 euros for self-employed workers and VAT numbers. What can they count on then?
For them, but not only, the government has set up a 300 million euro “fund for last resort income”. It is a "residual fund to cover all those excluded from the 600 euro indemnity, including registered professionals".
At the moment nothing else is known. To date, neither the amount of any bonus, nor its timing, nor in what form these resources will be disbursed are specified. Everything is postponed to an implementing decree that the Ministry of Labor will have to issue within 30 days.
Sources close to the dossier let FIRSTonline know that there could be a huge difference between the compensation provided for self-employed and VAT numbers enrolled in the separate INPS management and that for professionals with private pension funds. If for the former the 600 euros will not be taxable, for the latter the indemnity may instead be subject to some form of taxation. It is also expected the imposition of income limits which will exclude the highest bands and thresholds which will reduce the amount of compensation as income rises. Finally, the 300 million made available will not be the prerogative of freelancers alone, but also of other categories that for the moment are without protection.
While he waits to read the final text, the first criticisms arrive: "The measures adopted in relation to freelancers enrolled in private pension funds are absolutely insufficient“, says the President of the Inarcassa Foundation, Egidio Comodo, who adds: “The discrimination that is taking place against us is unacceptable: in this delicate moment, we do not want, and cannot, feel subordinate to anyone. The establishment of the 300 million fund to also cover professionals enrolled in the orders is insufficient, new and decisive extraordinary income support measures are needed ".
“The latest act issued by the Government, despite the commitment of some political representatives, is a slap to those who are risking their lives to stem the pandemic”, comments Alberto Oliveti, president of the social security institution for doctors and dentists (Enpam) and of the association of professionals' funds (Adepp) who also complains about the uncertainty existing on the endowment, timing, criteria and methods of attributing the Fund. "Professionals - he continues - will suffer tax discrimination since they will have to pay taxes on the subsidies received by the Funds, while the allowances that will be distributed by INPS will be tax-free". Not only that, according to Oliveti “professional social security institutions are prevented from using their own resources to deal with the emergency. In fact, we had asked the Government to be able to use a part of our reserves that exceed the legal requirements to help members in this moment of need, but we have not received an answer".
However, the last word has not been said. The Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Stefano Buffagni (M5S), stated that: “we have made a huge effort, but now we have to make another one: to support even more those who do not have real protections, i.e. thousands of VAT numbers and those who generally carry out self-employment. I am sure we will make it and that no one will be left behind". "We will work for a further effort in the next provision or in the conversion phase of the decree to give greater support to self-employed workers and VAT numbers", confirmed the president of Italy Long live, Ettore Rosato. The arrival of new corrections is therefore plausible.
(Last update: 17.15 on 17 March)
