Author: Graziele Dal-Bó

Source: Diário Catarinense - SC, 14/07/2009

The State Secretariat of Finance will close the siege to tax evaders
fuel on the northern border of the state, to end the monthly losses of R $
10 million resulting from non-payment of taxes.

Responsible for the largest share in the state revenue cake, the
fuels has been losing strength with regard to tax collection.
It went from an annual participation of 26% to 20% in 2008, and, apparently,
should close 2009 at 18%.

According to the Secretary of Finance, Antonio Gavazzoni, and presidents of
fuel unions from various parts of the state, who were meeting in the
Government Administrative Center, yesterday, in the Capital, this fall is due,
above all, the tax evasion of some companies.

A study by the Finance Secretariat shows that, of the 1.830 posts in SC, around
200 (10,93%) have irregularities. In addition, two large distributors
catarinenses have their records revoked and two others had the issuance of
blocked electronic invoice, that is, these establishments are required
to pay taxes for each operation carried out and to report periodically to the
Farm.

According to the Secretariat, Santa Catarina stations were being acquired by
gangs specialized in fraud. To combat tax evasion, one of the
measures announced by Gavazzoni (see table) is a public tender, whose
notice will be signed this week, for the hiring of one hundred tax auditors.
They will be responsible for controlling all fuel entering the state.
The contest will expand the current workforce by 20%.

Another action is the training of 50 military police officers, who will assist in the
inspection of cargo, through a partnership with the Secretary of Security
(SSP).

In addition, informed the general director of the SSP of SC, delegate Paulo Roberto
Neves, the organized crime crackdown group being created will focus,
in a first stage, in tax evasion in the fuel sector. For this,
85 agents and delegates were trained.

- The penalty for this crime can reach 10 years of imprisonment for money laundering.
money - said Neves.

Main actions

The Finance Secretariat will send a bill to the Assembly
Legislative to tighten the siege against tax evaders. Among the measures
They are:

> Obligation to present a guarantee for obtaining and
continuity of state registration

> Institution of the charge loss penalty for those who are not
according to the law

> Revocation of state registration of offenders> Whoever is caught is
prevented from working with that product for five years

> Control over Fiscal Coupon Issuers (ECF)

> Reestablishment of the Merchandise Inspection Department in
Transit

> Monitoring, with the participation of the Military Police, of
suspects

> Adoption of a special regime for distributors caught, which
implies the blocking of the electronic invoice and the payment of the tax to each
operation. The post that receives the irregular merchandise may be co-responsible
for the infraction

> Public tender to fill XNUMX vacancies for tax auditor

> Prohibition of mechanical pumps

> Implementation of the Fiscal Application Program (PAF-ECF), which will
real-time monitoring of sales