Source: migalhas.com.br, 30/01/2008

Last year, the ETCO Board of Directors began negotiating an agreement with the State Government of Rio Grande do Sul for the implantation of electronic invoices in other states, using Procergs technology. The partnership with the State Government will be executed through the Secretariat of Finance and Procergs. Currently, Rio Grande do Sul accounts for 56% of the electronic notes issued in the country.

FOR André Franco Montoro Filho, executive chairman of ETCO, electronic invoices are an effective means of simplifying collection, allowing greater control of tax evasion and reducing bureaucracy. "The implementation of the Electronic Invoice will certainly represent a major improvement of the Brazilian tax collection system", concludes the president of the institute.

The liquid fuel distribution sectors and cigarette manufacturers will be the first to adopt it, as of April 1, 2008, in 23 states, including São Paulo, Rio Grande do Sul, Rio de Janeiro Janeiro and Minas Gerais. The drug and beverage sectors are among the next to be required to issue the document.

For ETCO, the Electronic Invoice is considered the white flag in the fiscal war. It is an indispensable tool for seeking consensus on tax reform capable of meeting the demands and peculiarities of all states. The control allowed by the Electronic Invoice opens the way for the simplification of the Brazilian system and for the reduction of the tax burden. The Electronic Invoice allows to identify how much each State loses or gains with the change in the collection of ICMS.