Source: Official Portal of the State of Bahia - 21/09/2009

Expand the fight against tax evasion, through the development of a system aimed at the inspection of segments required to issue the Electronic Invoice (NF-e), and promote competitive ethics. These are the objectives of the Cooperation Agreement that the Government of Bahia, through the Secretariat of Finance, signed with the Brazilian Institute of Competition Ethics (ETCO) on Monday (21), at 14 pm, in a ceremony at the Governorate.

Participating in the event were Governor Jaques Wagner, Undersecretary of Finance Carlos Alberto Batista, and ETCO President André Franco Montoro Filho. For Batista, the computerization of the entire system offers the State more conditions to control and avoid tax evasion and even inhibit it. According to him, because it is a new instrument, those who are used to evading will have more difficulty. "The electronic invoice, by itself, already helps and these new analysis instruments will collaborate to reduce costs for tax administration activity", he said.

Easiness

A pioneer in the implementation of the program, Bahia, according to ETCO's president, André Franco, turns technology into a strong ally for inspection. "Bahia is a pioneer in this system and should serve as an example for all other states, which should soon adopt the model". For Franco, the tool will facilitate the work of tax auditors. "With the program, companies will have easy storage, reduced errors and easy inspection".

The technical and operational execution of the Cooperation Agreement will take place by a Steering Committee, whose members are part of the respective cooperative institutions. The committee comprises two representatives appointed by ETCO, two by Sefaz and one by the coordination of the National Meeting of State Tax Coordinators and Administrators (Encat).

Consumer adherence is key

Governor Jaques Wagner pointed out that the new system will serve to assure the consumer that the product purchased meets all the standards required by Organs competent bodies. “Since we are a market economy, we can now have a fairer and more real negotiation”, he evaluated. For Wagner, the measure represents the interest of several companies, but also of consumers who come to know about the origin of the product. "Consumers also have to collaborate by not buying pirated products, after all, the cheap, can be expensive".