Companies owned by influencer Felipe Neto and singer Gusttavo Lima appear among those benefiting from tax incentives from Perse, the Events Sector Emergency Resumption Program. The Ministry of Finance published a few days ago a list of companies benefiting from a series of tax exemptions, and the discounts granted to artists – which, theoretically, are within the law – became the subject of debate on social media.
From January to August, Play9 Serviços de Mídia, owned by Felipe Neto, obtained discounts of around R$14.3 million. For Balada Eventos e Produções, by Gusttavo Lima, it was R$18.9 million. to download the complete table of tax exemptions released by the government.
The multinational Live Nation, which produces shows with national and international artists such as Oasis, Olivia Rodrigo and the latest tour by Caetano Veloso and Maria Betânia, obtained R$22.9 million in tax benefits.
In total, Perse benefited 15,256 companies, which stopped paying R$9.6 billion in taxes in the first eight months of this year, which is the period covered by the Revenue list. The program has existed since 2021.
Felipe Neto’s company says tax reduction followed the law
Felipe Neto’s company confirmed the tax benefits received through the program to Revista Crusoé. In a statement, Play9 stated that its participation in Perse was approved by the courts during the government of former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL).
According to the company, in addition to its CNAE (National Classification of Economic Activities) being among those covered by Perse at that time, its registration in the program was carried out within the stipulated deadline.
“Like many other companies in the production, agency or events sector, Play9 was significantly impacted by the pandemic and, like competitors, used the benefit to mitigate the losses generated, in addition to guaranteeing jobs”, says the note.
Play9 also clarified that, due to the readjustment of Perse in April this year, when the CNAE relating to production activities was removed from the program, “it stopped using the benefit relating to this specific CNAE, strictly following current legislation”.
The companies of singers Luísa Sonza and Simone Mendes also benefited from the program. Simone Mendes Produções Musicais received an incentive of R$8.8 million and SG 11 & Company, R$561 thousand.
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Food and tourism companies had the biggest discounts with Perse
At the top of the companies benefiting from Perse is iFood, with R$336 million in tax waivers. The Madero restaurant received benefits of around R$69 million. Other restaurants, bars and hotels have benefited from Perse because the program also covers companies directly or indirectly related to the tourism sector.
Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras had the second largest tax waiver in Perse, with R$303 million until August. The third, fourth and fifth places on the list are hotels: Enotel Hotel & Resorts, with R$171 million, Atlântica Hotels Internacional Brasil, with R$104 million, and Vila Galé Brasil, with R$84 million.
Airbnb, an apartment rental network for short and long seasons, was awarded R$82 million in benefits. Another in the tourism sector, MSC Cruzeiros was entitled to tax incentives worth R$71 million.
Linked to the events and tourism sector, JB World Entretenimentos, the company behind Beto Carrero World, obtained R$67 million in tax reductions.
Perse benefited event promoters with politicians and football clubs
Companies promoting events with politicians were also covered by Perse tax benefits. Esfera Brasil, which promotes events in the country and abroad, had benefits of R$19.6 million. Grupo Lide, owned by former governor of São Paulo João Doria, obtained R$458,000.
Sports companies were also favored by Perse. Link Assessoria Esportiva, owned by businessman André Cury, obtained R$18.5 million in benefits. Link and its owner filed five lawsuits against Corinthians worth R$27 million. The actions charge late fees for commissions, intermediaries or loans to the São Paulo club.
Football clubs such as São Paulo and Internacional de Porto Alegre were also awarded the benefits of Perse. They obtained R$1.9 million and R$1.4 million, respectively.
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Learn more about Perse
Created in 2021 to help the events sector during the Covid-19 pandemic, Perse was targeted by the Lula government, which tried to overturn the benefit through a provisional measure in April this year. The proposal, however, was not well received in Congress.
Faced with this scenario, the Executive chose another way to debate the topic, a bill, authored by deputies José Guimarães (PT-CE) and Odair Cunha (PT-MG). The initial text provided for the maintenance of incentives for 12 sectors, instead of the original 44, and established that the benefit would gradually end by 2026.
Congress changed the proposal, maintaining tax reductions for around 30 activities. The project’s rapporteur in the Chamber, deputy Renata Abreu (Podemos-SP), maintained tax exemption until 2026 and created a ceiling of R$15 billion for total benefits.
After the reformulation, Perse continues to benefit companies in the tourism chain, hotels, restaurants, bars, as well as those in the cultural sector, such as theater and musical production, among others.
Tax reductions can be applied to Income Tax, the Social Contribution on Net Profit (CSLL), the Social Integration and Employee Asset Formation Program (PIS/Pasep), and the Contribution for Social Security Financing ( Cofins).
