The federal deputy Rubens Pereira Jr (PT-MA) was nominated to chair the special commission that will appreciate the government project that expands Exemption from Individual Income Tax (IRPF) For those who earn until R$ 5 mil.
Pereira Jr states that the nomination of Arthur Lira (PP-AL) as rapporteur of the project increases the chances of approval of the subject.
According to the committee chairman, the opposition, who did not readjust the table when he was in the government of Jair Bolsonaro, now speaks of increasing exemption to $ 10,000. For Pereira Jr, the idea of opponents is impractical.
The deputy bets on the approval of the bill in Congress this year so that the measure will enter into force next year.
Check out the interview with Infomoney of the President of the Special Committee that will analyze the IR exemption project:
Infomoney-You have been nominated as chairman of the commission that will deal with income tax exemption for those who earn up to $ 5,000, and former president of Chamber Arthur Lira as a rapporteur. Are the nominations of the parties to form the commission still missing? Is it possible that work starts this week?
Deputy Rubens Pereira Jr – Possible Yes, but I would say it is not likely. It is having a good degree of dispute inside the benches and it is possible these indications to be completed until the end of the week, leaving the installation a little further. Probably next week.
IM-How is your relationship with former Mayor Arthur Lira? Can there be an ideological clash, as they are in opposite political fields?
RPJ – I don’t believe it. As much as we have different views, the main articles of the government [de Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva]in the first two years of the term, they were approved, under the leadership of Arthur Lira. I really enjoyed Arthur’s nomination as a rapporteur. For me, it considerably increases the chance to approve the story. Legislative Power must make changes [no projeto] And it is natural to be so. What is essential, which should not be changed, is the question of social justice and fiscal neutrality. Therefore, the project should not have an increase in expense, the sum tends to be zero. I see as positive the willingness of Arthur Lira to report the matter.
IM – What points of the project sent by the government should face the most resistance and can be changed?
RPJ – We have to wait for the debates. After the commission is installed, we will have a period of five sessions for amendment [apresentação de propostas de alteração] of the project. And only then will we know what the most sensitive points are. What we have heard so far: 1. A possible loss of revenue from the municipalities and, if this happens, we have to find a compensation mechanism. 2. There are several theses of how it should be compensated. The government’s proposal is for those who earn from $ 50,000 per month. There are people talking about $ 100,000, $ 150,000, $ 200,000 and this is the parliamentary debate ~, which will find a way to have votes in the House plenary.
IM – There is consensus in the exemption up to 5,000, what does not exist is at the other end. How to face this resistance of taxation of the highest salary range?
RPJ – It is possible to have an adjustment, because the tax neutrality is important. The sum be zero. What will be collected and what is most renounced in expense. We need to find this measure to make the adjustment. I do not believe in a proposal in which there is no tax neutrality. The tendency is to be a zero fiscal impact project. If you renounce the collection, you have to increase on the other side.
IM – Is it possible to form a consensus in Congress to approve the project this year, so that it can be valid next year?
RPJ– I believe yes, fully possible, no matter how difficult to approve the taxation of the richest. There is a certain popular pressure, even so that we can move forward. I do not see this project as a Lula government redemption, I see as a fulfillment of campaign promise. Lula had promised this in the past election, so the population already knew of this proposal. It has been increasing scaling in the first two years. When he received the government, the exemption range was $ 1.9 thousand, went to $ 2,500 and this year is $ 3,000. So, it has already been having this gradual evolution in the income tax exemption.
IM – If approved, do you believe the project will contribute to better income distribution?
RPJ – Surely. It is the main proposal to change income taxation in Brazil, democratization in income taxation. The proposal is extremely progressive, making those who earn little do not pay anything and who earns a lot to pay a little more.
IM – Recent research showed a drop in the popularity of President Lula. Is this a proposal that can contribute to leverage government assessment?
RPJ– Undoubtedly help. After all, it shows well the character of the government, which is a government that seeks to serve those who earn less, even if it affects a little who earns the most. Show on which side the government is.
IM – Are you optimistic about approving the project in the House?
RPJ – I am optimistic, I have not heard of those who vote against the project. The opposition has spoken to expand the exemption, wanting to put up to $ 10,000. She is not positioning herself against the exemption, precisely for the popular support that the project has. They, when they were in government, did not readjust the table and now they say they want exemption of $ 10,000. It has no substance in the real world. As chairman of the commission, I am focused on the following: having a great opportunity for debates, making many public hearings, asking a lot of information and official data, so that the legislature can contribute to the bill. Ensuring the improvement of the proposal, but mainly ensuring approval. We will enter a stage of much democratization of discussions. The more debates we do, the better the end result.
IM – Have you ever talked or will you talk to Minister Fernando Haddad?
RPJ – I haven’t had a meeting yet specifically with him, but I have already met with other people from his team. Surely we will hear you, because it was he who managed this program at the Ministry of Finance. Let’s dialogue with the executive branch.
