In an extraordinary session agreed upon by the majority blocs, the Chamber of Deputies was preparing to discuss the creation of a “technological monotribute”. The ruling party hopes to give a half-penalty to the projectestablishing a special regime for freelancers working abroad they can dispose of the dollars they receiveup to a maximum of US$30,000 per year.
The initiative is being opposed by software companies and large consulting services firms, afflicted by the lack of highly qualified personnel. In parallel, the legislators of Junto por el Cambio oppose its approval and demand that the project go back to committee, because “legislating on exceptional situations” for a particular sector, as in the present case, with the existing exchange rate gap, “it’s a patch”.
If successful, it is estimated that the “technology monotony” it would benefit around 6,000 professionals linked to the knowledge economy (programmers, graphic designers, engineers, system analysts, and even professional video game players, among others), which charge commissions and prizes in hard currencies, such as dollars and euros. With the “monotech” they will not be obliged to adjust them to the official exchange rateas exporters of any item.
According to the author of the project, the secretary of the knowledge economy, Ariel Sujarchuk, the main goal is to formalize between 1,000 and 1,800 million dollars a year, which today circulate on the black market, in overseas accounts or in cryptocurrencies. In the private sector, on the other hand, they reject it because they believe that this is a legitimization of unfair practices from foreign companies and informal work.
Linked to the world of technology, the knowledge economy sector (software and qualified services of all kinds) is one of the items that generates the most foreign currency. They export more than 7,000 million dollars annually and have more than 450,000 employees, They earn well above average salaries. But in pesos. The trade gap and technological advances have favored independent and remote work, which is billed off the books, but in currencies considered a safe haven of value.
For Sujarchuk the simplified and exchange regime for small taxpayers (known as single-tax tech) is laundering of workers performing duties abroad, but which will also allow for increased collection dollars for billing unregistered services. Whether it is individual work or small groups associated to carry out the tasks.
The draft of the new tax regime proposes 3 categories of annual income: up to USD 10,000, up to USD 20,000 and up to USD 30,000. Each of them is established on the basis of the income ceiling and the integrated amount to be paid, including income tax, social assistance and pension contributions. In reality, it is a question of regularizing a very particular and high-end self-employment.
Source: Clarin
