Alckmin repeats that tax reform can be approved in the 1st semester

The vice-president and minister of Development, Industry, Commerce and Services, Geraldo Alckmin, said this Monday (6) that the tax reform could be approved in the first half of this year.

Minister Fernando Haddad (Finance) has been stating that the tax reform would be able to be voted on in the first half of the year and that he believed approval by April in the Chamber of Deputies was possible.

Alckmin cited two PECs (Proposal for Amendment to the Constitution) that are being discussed in the National Congress, numbers 110 and 45, which may simplify the tax issue in Brazil by uniting different taxes into a single IVA.

On February 2, the Minister of Planning, Simone Tebet, stated that the discussion of the issue in Congress will take at least six months.

“I believe that [a reforma] may be approved in this first semester. You have to take advantage of the beginning of the government to approve the PECs, which requires a change in the Constitution and a qualified majority”, he said, during a forum on the green economy held by BandNews TV, in São Paulo

The vice-president also mentioned the election of Arthur Lira (PP-AL) and Rodrigo Pacheco (PSD-MG) to head the two legislative houses, which could help speed up the process.

“Both presidents-elect, in the House and Senate, [são] favorable to the tax reform, which is a reform that can make a difference, bringing economic efficiency, simplifying, helping investment in Brazil”, he said.

According to Alckmin, the reform is fundamental for the development of the Brazilian economy and may, in 15 years, bring a gain of 10% in GDP growth (Gross Domestic Product), by simplifying and reducing costs in the payment of taxes.