Source: Jornal de Santa Catarina (Blumenau - SC) - 31/05/2012

Sale of cheaper fuel this Thursday and proposals in the National Congress in defense of the reduction of taxes are among the initiatives

Almost 41% of Brazilian consumer income is expected to return to the government's coffers this year in the form of taxes, fees and contributions, according to estimates by the Brazilian Institute of Tax Planning (IBPT). The increase in the tax burden is the fourth in a row. It is as if people have to work until Wednesday to meet the needs of the public sector.

A series of initiatives are being taken in Joinville and Barra Velha to make the population aware of the weight of taxes in the families' budget. Groups of young entrepreneurs programmed the sale of fuel without taxes at stations in both cities;

- We are not against the payment of taxes, we just want there to be a better application of these resources by the governments. That is why we organized the Tax Freedom Day, to raise awareness in society so that it covers quality education and excellent health services. We paid nearly five months of tax work to the government. It is not fair that we still have to pay for private school or health insurance if we want to have a better life -, says Douglas Hoffmann, one of the coordinators of the action in Joinville.

Last week, representatives of the Efficient Brazil Movement (MBE), which preaches more efficiency in the use of public resources, were in Brasília to discuss the urgent need for tax reform. Joinvilense businessman Carlos Schneider, one of the leaders of MBE, spoke at the Chamber of Deputies, talking about the need to rationalize public spending.

The MBE coordinator, Paulo Rabello de Castro, presented a tax reform proposal to the Vice President of the Republic, Michel Temer, and to the Minister of Finance, Guido Mantega on Wednesday. The ideas are to simplify tax collection, improve public management and cut interest rates. The project foresees the reduction of the tax burden from 38%, this year, to 30%, in 2022.

The businessman Sérgio Rodrigues Alves, who chairs the Chamber of Tax and Legislative Affairs of Fiesc, gives a good example of how much taxes prevent Brazilian companies from being stronger.

- Today, the tax burden in Brazil represents 38% of GDP, while in China this rate does not reach 20%.

Initiatives for immediate changes in this situation are punctual. The executive secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Nelson Barbosa, confirmed Wednesday that the government is discussing simplifying the collection of PIS and Cofins, according to a proposal submitted by the business sector.

Senators

With a strong electoral base in the north of the state, senators Luiz Henrique da Silveira and Paulo Bauer defend actions that present proposals to reduce taxes in the country.

Earlier this week, in Brasilia, LHS reinforced a strategy to reduce taxes that may have an impact on urban mobility. According to him, this is an action that calls for integration between municipal, state and federal agencies.

Bauer defends two proposed amendments to the constitution (PEC). In a meeting, Wednesday, with the Minister of Health, Alexandre Padilha, the parliamentarian received support for the proposal that aims at zero tax on any medicine.

Today, Brazilians pay 34% of taxes. In addition, Bauer is the author of another action that provides tax incentives to companies that use recyclable materials.

- This mobilization makes it clear that the political class understands the importance of reducing taxes -, he says.