Castagneto: “Afip opens the ball to increase the number of taxpayers”

Carlos Castagneto took over the leadership of AFIP with the aim of increasing revenue. In dialogue with Clarione I explain the scope of the new provision with which we try to anticipate the payment of personal income tax.

-These are busy days, have you met the Minister of Economy, the President, the Vice President?

– I find myself with everyone, I saw Cristina, Massa and Alberto. An integral and articulated look is important in difficult moments. I also met with the President of the Central Bank and the Secretary of Commerce.

– This Tuesday the advance of personal income tax is made official for almost 2,000 companies, what is the goal?

– The payment is one-time by way of income tax. Individuals with an income greater than $ 300 million must advance 25% and those exceeding $ 100 million, 15%. They have benefited from it, they represent 1% of people who pay taxes and are in the top decile of legal entities. We hope to raise $ 250 billion.

– How is the payment scheme?

– There is an expiration schedule. If they closed the fiscal year between August and December 2021, October, November and December are paid; in January 2022, November, December and January of ’22 you pay and so on, those who closed in July of this year pay in May, June and July 2023. We ask for six months in advance and next year they pay the rest.

– And what will they be with the hole it will generate in the 2023 harvest?

– We have big challenges: in a short time we will finish a satellite system problem on 1,200 municipalities and 3,000 municipalities, and under the control there are different types of service companies and we want to increase the number of taxpayers. We will be able to determine who pays today and who does not, or who has to pay and is not registered.

– Are you going to identify the properties?

– It is a cross-database risk matrix. There is a lot of informal economics, everything is identified. It must be fair and equitable, not persecuted or fearful. Collection is not in line with economic activity.

– What sectors are we talking about?

– AFIP is said to fish inside the aquarium, we want to open it. For example, if you pay for personal property and there is a mansion next door that does not pay, or a person has a field and pays, and the one next door does not pay. We have taken over companies and these are things that have not been put into practice. We will carry out systematic and face-to-face inspections together with Customs and DGI.

– AFIP has found 222 companies that have paid “zero” earnings, what do you plan to do?

– In Argentina and around the world, there are companies that do not pay earnings. All cases are being analyzed and the investigation is at different stages. They are on a large scale and in some cases the affidavits have been challenged. You have to see how they use the adjustment for inflation, the amount (of debt) will be determined in the presentation of their balance sheet.

– Today VAT is the main source of income, a non-progressive tax.

– Earnings, VAT, and contributions and contributions also increased dramatically, with an 87% year-over-year increase. When the economic and productive activity will increase, the collection will continue to increase and also an exhaustive control in part of the customs.

– Many analysts predict an economic slowdown

– We have expectations of continuing to grow, perhaps a little less, you have come for four years without growth and then the pandemic has stopped the business. This month the collection is very good.

– Are you considering measures to increase revenue and balance accounts?

– Not for now, it’s these measures and economic growth. The Minister of Economy tries to lower inflation, the collection will have a very important growth and will question all the policies of the state.

AQ