Massa insists, Guzmán will advance the floor increase in Revenues

To prevent an increase in the number of workers paying Income Tax, the Minister of Economy, Martín Guzmán, decided to advance the increase in the floor of the non -taxable minimum, which is now $ 225,937 gross. The increase is planned for January 2023, but after public request and pressure from Sergio Massa, it was decided to advance it to May or June of this year.

Specialists agree that The proposal indicates a decrease in Revenues collection but until last night they had not yet measured the impact. In the economy, They ensured that this would not affect the Fund agreement.

Secretary of Tax Policy, Robert Arias, confirmed the proposal and compared it to the increase by decree in September, which brought the salary floor from $ 150,000 to $ 175,000 gross. “Here it will be the same, the minimum to be given in January 2023, we will advance it by 6 or 7 months“He said this Sunday on the program“ How do you see it? ”On Futurock radio.

The non-taxable minimum is updated once a year based on the evolution of the salary of stable workers (RIPTE). Between October 2020 and 2021 the index rose 50.5%, the salary for which Earnings are paid rose to $ 225,937 for the current fiscal year. The next increase should be in January 2023 based on the RIPTE adjustment between October 2021 and 2022.

But due to accelerating inflation and advancing joint wages, the salary floor was delayed and wage earners who were not included began to pay taxes. In that framework, Massa asked Guzmán in a letter on Friday to raise the minimum tax payment to $ 265,000 gross by power granted by Congress last year.

The minister said it was “obvious” to update such a parameter based on the evolution of prices, which this year will exceed 65%, according to consultants. And this Sunday Arias provided further details, though did not detail what the new minimum amount at which the tax will begin to be paid will be. The idea is for the President to announce it as soon as possible.

In the last days, There were two pieces of information that set off alarms on Frente de Todos. According to an official report, which seems to be circulating in AFIP and Economy offices, the universe of tax -affected workers has gone from 740,000 in February to 790,000 in March and 850,000 in April. Meaning, an increase of 110,000 people (15%) in just two months.

The other worrying number is the de facto outdated reform last year, which allowed 1.5 million workers to be excluded from tax (they went from 2.3 million in 2020 to 950,000 in 2021). If the current scheme remains unchanged, the tribute could affect 1.3 million people by the end of 202236% more than in 2021.

“What is happening is that this adjustment (which is in RIPTE) is being made backwards, so when there is growth that is greater than expected in the coming months in wages, income -paying workers may rise, we don’t want to riseArias admitted.

In this way, Guzmán chose to wink at middle- and high -wage workers, in the midst of Kirchnerism’s attacks against the economic program, which led him to criticize some of Cristina Kirchner’s government policies. And in a scenario of growing pressure from the political wing to reduce revenue, a strategy that Massa has now joined.

The Government has ordered reinforcement from May of up to $ 18,000 for informal workers and retirees, and will advance the minimum, vital and mobile wage (SMVM) until June, two issues La Cámpora claims. That sector also presented a project to create a universal basic salary and a pension moratorium for people who do not have enough years of contributions to collect a pension.

The head of the Treasury is unaware of most of the initiatives promoted in recent weeks by the ruling party. But in his environment they deny that the steps he has begun to take now, such as reorganizing Earnings, are a reflex action. “Not everything he does is because the political wing demands itthe bond that will be paid now, for example, ”they pointed out.

While the minister’s position on the universal wage is not yet known, in his portfolio they believe that the latest decisions will not affect the IMF’s commitments, one of the main flags he displays at his meetings with businessmen. On the contrary, they say they agree with a good portion of the legislative projects and ensure that “there is no deviation from goals“.

For specialists, insufficient down payment of floor increase foreseen in Revenues. It is that if the evolution of RIPTE is to be taken from last October to March of this year, the minimum wage tax should increase by approximately $ 280,000 gross. And if the calculation is done by May, the floor should exceed $ 310,000.